My Favorite Things

Just Checking In

2012-02-15T08:26:00.002-05:00

I've been visiting with my sister, Sue, for a day or two. She has given me lots of ideas and supplies for creating primitives home decor. I may have mentioned a few posts back that my niece, Tina, got me started looking seriously at primitive decor. So we (my sister, Sue - my daughter, Bev and I) have been collecting ideas to make our own items.

Here is a sample of Sue's crow:

Bev and Alicia already have a booth called "Primitives at Heart" where they are selling their items. I won't be able to post photos of their things this morning because I have been away from my blog for so long that the format has been changed and I will have to re-learn how to do everything. Anyway, they are very excited about this new booth.

I will be going back to my Mom's house with lots of crows cut out so she can help me paint them before adding embellishments to them. We had been working on a quilt but this will give our necks and eyes a break from the close work.

Well, I'll keep this short...just wanted to check in and kind of let everyone know I'm still here and even tho I haven't been "reading" blogs as much as before, I still love "looking" at what everyone is doing. I follow many of you via email...just love that feature where I get your post via email! Lots have things have been happening and I have checked out alot of little shops that I hope to share here with you soon.

Until later...V

Blessings to all!!

Update from Kentucky

2012-01-21T22:43:00.002-05:00

Mom and I have been busy catching up and visiting since I got here. My sisters and various members of their families have stopped in to visit over the past week. We made a shopping trip about mid-week with two of my sisters, Sue and Stacey, and Mom and I have been cooking together which is always fun.

We had a busy day today cooking lunch for our Sunday dinner tomorrow, (something we always used to do when I still lived at home) and we picked out our outfits for church and I polished our fingernails.

I had a chance to put the batting and sheet on the back of a quilt top I'm getting ready to quilt for my youngest daughter (Bev's) sister-in-law.

Then I made a folded star wall hanging for Bev to put in the space she has rented, with a friend, to sell crafts and things.

Here is the folded star:

I'm too tired to post more tonight...until later...V

Finally packed...

2012-01-11T22:52:00.001-05:00

Well finally...after planning for several months to go visit my Mom...its finally happening. I have my ticket and luggage packed but still have numbness in both feet and in my right leg. I am so hoping that I won't have too much trouble. I have been so tired this week that I was beginning to think I would never get two suitcases packed! Whew! I am so used to being able to do things for myself that when I can't its VERY frustrating!! I didn't call ahead to the airport and ask if I would be able to get help getting to my plane on time but I'm going early to make sure I can speak with someone about getting where I need to be with help. I have flown several times and remember having to do a lot of walking which I sure won't be able to do this time.

Sue said they were expecting snow flurries tomorrow but I hope the flurries hold off until I get there.

As I mentioned in my last post I spent a few days visiting with Bev and Lynn. I wasn't as much help to her as I have been in the past due to my slow recovery from back surgery but we still had a nice visit and got lots of things done. I have a few pictures that I may be able to post when I get to Kentucky.

While laid up these many weeks I've listened to NPR (National Public Radio) and tonight while listening I heard about "Water to Wine" for the first time. And I wanted to post about it. Too many of my post seem to be of the "me, me, me" and "I, I, I" type that instead of choosing a "Word of the Year" I've decided that instead of always talking about what I'm doing I want to begin to focus on people who are making a difference this year.

I was amazed while listening to the interview about how "Wine to Water" got its start. Here is Doc Hendley's story. He even has a blog too. You can read more about this "grass roots" group that have made a difference to a lot of people since it began back in 2004.
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http://winetowater.org/about-us

How We Began
Wine To Water was a dream that became a reality in the beginning of 2004. We held our first fundraiser in Raleigh, North Carolina in February of 2004 to see if in fact it was an idea that people would respond to. The concept was originally to put on benefit wine events, such as tastings, then use all of the money raised to support water projects around the world. The first fundraiser was a great success. With its success, and others to follow, came a confidence that Wine to Water would continue to grow as an organization. As a result, wine tastings became just one of many ways that we raise awareness and support for the global water crisis. We have worked to provide clean water and sanitation in many countries including Sudan, India, Cambodia, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Haiti.

Our Name
The very first miracle that Jesus performed was turning water into wine. He was at a wedding party that ran out of wine before the party was finished, which would have made the host look bad. Mary, Jesus’ mother, came to Jesus and told him about the wine running out. Jesus had compassion and told the servants to fill six stone water pots with water. Then they were to draw some water out and bring it to the head-waiter of the party. “When the head-waiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the head-waiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, 'Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.'” (John 2: 9-10) Wine To Water’s goal is to allow Jesus to turn His miracle around for the needy people of this world. It is our prayer that Jesus Christ will use those of us who have plenty to help provide someone who is less fortunate with the gift of clean water.
Founder - Doc Hendley

Doc Hendley is the Founder and President of Wine To Water. In 2003 he dreamed up the concept of the organization while bartending and playing music in nightclubs around Raleigh, North Carolina. In February of 2004 the first fundraiser was held and by August of that same year Doc was living in Darfur, Sudan installing water systems for victims of the government supported genocide. When Doc returned home in August of 2005 the haunting memories of what he had seen in Darfur drove him to continue building the organization he started two years before. In 2007, after working two jobs and volunteering his time for over three years, Wine To Water became an official 501 (c) (3) and Doc's dream finally became a reality. "When the idea came to me to start Wine To Water the only real world job experience I had was tending bar. I dreamed of building an organization that fought water related death and disease using completely different methods than anyone else. So I started raising money to fight this water epidemic the best way I knew how, by pouring wine and playing music." Doc's dream, and now the goal of Wine To Water, is to quench the thirst of the needy in a way that sets them apart from the rest of the world. "If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Mathew 10:42)
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Amen, Doc, Amen!

I often wonder what my purpose is for God and too often feel that I'm not qualified to do anything of significance...then I remember that He doesn't want me to do ANYTHING in my own strength...He just wants me to make myself available for Him to accomplish His Will...to say "here I am Lord, send me!"

Here's praying that we will find our purpose for God in Christ and the Holy Spirit this year!

Until later...V

The New Year in Canton, NC

2012-01-03T12:50:00.003-05:00

Today is Jan 3 and we find ourselves with 11 degree weather this morning. We got 4 inches of snow last night and the high today is only 25 degrees. Brrrrrr!!

So glad Bev and I got at least some of the windows covered with plastic.

Bev is more like us in her style of living. She says its because she doesn't have "money" so she has to make every purchase count - and it has to have a dual purpose. She embraces our country ways with both hands and is always willing and eager to learn more about "country" living and ways to save.

I've been trying to look her home over and add suggestions as to what might help her save on heating and also make her home warmer. I try to remember the things we used to do to keep warm in winter like putting hot water bottles in the bed a little while before going to bed. Sealing off any place she feels cold air coming in and just wearing layered clothing in the house.

She kept saying how cold she was last night while she was working on her embroidery... and I said "well Bev, you're sitting beside a heating pad, plug it up and turn it on!! (she had brought it out for my leg) she said "oh, why didn't I think of that!" So she plugged it up and said "ohhhh that feels soooo good!" I had to laugh at her! She also pulled out her little fleece blankets to throw across her legs. I guess most people associate using a heating pad only when you are sick or hurting!

I took a break from this email so Bev and I could put a big pot of soup on before she goes off to work. Lynn is taking her in to work in case the roads are still bad (we just heard the salt truck go by). I'll start my yeast rolls here shortly so we will have those with the soup.

Until later...V

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"Eye has not seen...the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
1 Corinthians 2:9

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T12:41:00.002-05:00

Well, here we are on the eve of such a special holiday...I for one have very much enjoyed looking at lots and lots of pretty pictures of decorations and delicious foods...and I say "looking at" because many of you may already know that I am in the midst of recovering from some much needed back surgery therefore have been unable to make many of the things I've seen. Not to worry though, I have the ideas all neatly stored away for next year, good Lord willing!

I did make Lemon Bars (from a mix) yesterday as I know that's one of my family's favorites. (My family, what precious two words! I am so blessed to have family!) The mix that I used is simple and oh so delicious. Two small bags in the box brought such joy to this Grandma's heart! The 1st step was to break 3 eggs into a bowl and add 1/3 cup water; beat with a wire whisk and set aside while preparing the crust. The 2nd step was to pour second bag into a 8x8 inch baking dish and press evenly along bottom of dish then bake for 9 minutes. Then once the crust was finished all I had to do was stir the filling again and pour over the hot crust and return to oven for 25 minutes! How simple! After the timer went off all I had to do was let it cool, sprinkle top with powdered sugar and it was ready to serve as dessert at supper! I'm so happy for mixes like that...that taste sooo yummy!

Today I thought I might try 2 recipes that will be in the "made from scratch" category...with the help of my oldest grandson Hayden (who by the way prefers to be called James as he is now a teenager!) The above two recipes require a little more effort and I will need some help. James has expressed an interest in cooking and is always, thankfully, willing to lend a hand!
...The 1st recipe is my favorite called "Six Flavor Pound Cake" ~ the combination of lemon, butter, butter-nut, almond, coconut, vanilla make this THE BEST pound cake I have ever had. The recipe came to me in a purchase of Watkin's flavorings I made way back when the purchase was almost considered a luxury not a need in my family (a definite No-No!) I am so glad I made that purchase and received the recipe as this cake has brought smiles to many a face over the years!
...The 2nd recipe is the ever popular "Texas Sheet Cake" that I first ever heard of from Aunt Alice ~ this is one that I made regularly for my girls when they were growing up. Again sooo easy because you mix up the batter from staples most people already have on hand and the only extra item you would need to buy (for me anyway) was powdered sugar and nuts for the icing! (I spoke with Bev about this recipe last night and she does remember me making it a lot! She loved it!) It's like a cookie sheet of brownies with rich home-made cocoa icing! (Roman said he is willing to help me also! Will be nice to have someone to "lick" the icing beaters! Ha!Ha!)

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Just a reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season...I especially enjoyed the post made by Charles Swindoll (see side bar for link) about:

"Four Seasonal Dangers and Strageties" ~
First is the doctrinal danger of substituting the temporal for the eternal...

"Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. . . . Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Colossians 3:1–2; Romans 12:2 NIV)

It's important that we rivet into our heads exactly what we're celebrating. It is our Savior's arrival, not Santa's. The significance of giving presents is to be directly related to God's presenting us the gift of His Son...

Second is the personal danger of impressing but not imparting. We represent the King. We are His chosen ambassadors, doing His business "in season and out of season." Then let's do it this season! People are wide open to the gospel these days. Forget about trying to impress others by what you buy. Spend more time imparting what you already possess.

Third is the economic danger of spending more than you have. Before every purchase, think. Ask yourself some direct, penetrating questions: Is this within my budget? Is it appropriate? Is it really saying what I want it to say? Gifts you make are often much more appreciated and much less expensive than those you buy. Stretching the dollar usually involves planning ahead. A safe rule to follow is this: if you don't have the cash—don't buy it...

Finally, there's the psychological danger of getting built up for a letdown. One of the most effective maneuvers of the world system is to create a false sense of excitement. The Christian can get "high" very easily on the crest of Christmas. But the cold that sweeps in on the tail of a fading afterglow can be a dangerous, depressing experience. Guard yourself. Keep a firm hand on the controls. Don't be deceived. Enjoy the 25th . . . but not at the expense of the 26th.

If you stay occupied with the Person, you'll seldom have to fight off the plague. Make Hebrews 12:3 your aim—consider Him. Fill your thoughts and desires and expectations with your unfailing Lord.

When the wrappings and ribbons are in the trashcan and the manger scene is back in the attic and the friends and family have said goodbye and the house feels empty and so do you . . . there is One who waits to fill your heart and renew your hope. He was there on December 24.

He'll be there on the 26th.
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So well put!

Let's do our best to be more patient with our families, friends and with strangers these next few days between Christmas and New Years as statistics show the suicide rate is higher at this time of year and if there is anything we can do to reach out to others at this time in any way we can let's do it! Hold a door for someone, help set groceries from cart to counter, offer change if someone is struggling to pay, help get groceries to their car, all you public transportation riders keep an eye out for the elderly and mothers with children who ride with you and help them if you can! It's not the gift giving that is the most important...it's the giving of ourselves...letting others know we are HERE and ready and willing to help with a SMILE! Smiles are contagious! Whatever we do let's do it with a smile...with gratitude in our hearts that our Lord smiles down on us with blessings every day whether we say "Thank You" to Him or not!

As Christs' followers His requirement to be a servant to others was given to us for our good benefit and the good benefit ot others! It's the ONE thing that we can do over and over and over until it becomes a habit that brings BLESSINGS to both the giver and receiver!!

Happy Day to all...and here's to All the Happy Tomorrows the Good Lord gives Us!!

Until later...V

The quilting "Bug"...

2011-12-18T08:18:00.001-05:00

You, my dear sister, have the quilting bug!!

I recognize the symptoms! The excitement of each matching piece found and added. The feeling of dread when you have to put it down and the counting of the minutes when you can take it up again! The surge of joy and pride you feel as you see it "growing" right before your eyes!

You will be a bit sad when you finish that last stitch...you will be filled with love and pride as you run your hands over the finished beauty...you will not want to let it out of your sight! You will gaze upon it throughout the day and be eager to show it off to family, friends and neighbors!

Ahhh, let me warn you...there is no cure for this bug, my dear. Oh, it will lie dormant at times when your thoughts turn to other things that need to be done...then before you know it you will happen upon a piece of fabric that you fall in love with and your next steps will be to search through your stash to find other lovely pieces to match thus the fever takes a hold of you again!

Now you know why so many quilters lovingly surround themselves with their quilts...one is lain tenderly over the quilt rack others are stacked neatly on open shelves and others are proudly displayed across the bed and switched out with the seasons!

The pure and simple joy of the whole process cannot be put into words! And fellow quilters need no words for they already know and share this passion for the art of quilting! It's a passion that brings such joy to you that it spills over as love toward your family and friends...

I am so happy for you and know that this gift you have will bring blessings to you and your family!

Happy Christmas to you my dear sister!

Love, Vicki

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A heart at peace gives life to the body,
Proverbs 14:30a

Primitive Quilt Update

2011-12-17T12:02:00.002-05:00

I felt well enough on Friday to get the Primitive quilt top finished pieced.

I tried to upload photos but apparently this is not something I can do on my Blackberry.

Anyway, I was surprised to find that the two packages of pre-cut blocks fit the twin size blanket I was planning to use. I did not measure to see if it would fit (as I often do) - I just started by counting out the squares and sewing the pieces together and just sort of going by what size I wanted...basically a throw type quilt to use while watching TV. Anyway, I figured I may have to add a strip to the edges if the top wasn't big enough.

I had most of the top pieced before my surgery and had planned to work on it during my recovery, however yesterday was the first day I actually felt like working on it. I could only work on it alittle at a time but I did feel like I had made progress.

My plan today is to tea dye an old sheet and use that for the backing. I felt that since this is a primitive quilt that would be appropriate.

Will keep you posted on my progress with this and will upload photos as soon as I am able to.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Until later...V

God's Oddling by Jesse Stuart - Part 2

2011-12-15T02:33:00.003-05:00

He looked upon the beauty of this cove he had cleared and his three crops growing here. He rarely figured a field in dollars and cents. Although he never wasted a dollar, money didn't mean everything to him. He liked to see the beauty of growing things on the land. He carried this beauty in his mind...

He saw more beauty in trees than any man I have ever known. He would walk through a strange forest laying his hand upon the trees and say they should be cut. He would always give his reasons for cutting a tree: too many trees on a root stool, too thick, one damaged by fire at the butt, one leaning against another, too many on the ground, or the soil not deep enough above a ledge of rocks to support them...

My father wouldn't break the Sabbath by working, except in an emergency. He would follow a cow that was overdue to calve. He would watch over ewes in the same manner. He followed them to the high cliffs and helped them deliver their lambs, saving their lives. He would do such things on Sundays, and he would fight forest fires. But he always said he could make a living working six days in the week. Yet he was restless on Sundays. He just had to walk around and look over his fields and enjoy them.

Sometimes when I went with my father to a field, we'd cross a stream, and he'd stop the horse, sit down on the bank in the shade, and watch the flow of water. He'd watch minnows in a deep hole. He wouldn't say a word, and I wouldn't either. I'd look all around, wondering what he'd seen to make him stop, but I never would ask him. When he got through looking, he'd tell me why he'd stopped. Sometimes he wouldn't. Then we'd go on to the field together, and he'd work furiously to make up for the time he had lost while he sat beside the stream and watched the clean water flowing over the sand and gravel to some far-off place beyond his little hill world.

My father didn't have to travel over the country searching for something beautiful to see. He didn't have to go away to find beauty, for he found it everywhere around him. He had eyes to find it. He had a mind to know it. He had a heart to appreciate it. He was an uneducated poet of this earth. And if anybody had told him that he was, he wouldn't have understood. He would have turned and walked away without saying anything.

In the winter, when snow was over the ground, and the stars glistened, he'd go to the barn to feed the livestock at four in the morning. I have seen him put corn in the feedboxes for the horses and mules, then go out and stand and look at the morning moon. He once told me he always kept a horse with a flaxen mane and tail because he liked to see one run in the moonlight with his mane arched high and his tail floating on the wind.

I've gone out early in the morning with him, and he's shown me Jack Frost's beautiful architecture, which lasted only until the sun came up. This used to be one of the games my father played with me on a cold morning. He showed me all the designs that I would never have found without him. Today, I cannot look at white fields of frost on early winter mornings and not think of him.

When spring returned, he was always taking me someplace to show me a new tree he had found, or a pretty red mushroom growing on a rotting stump in some deep hollow. He found so many strange and beautiful things that I tried to rival him by making discoveries, too. I looked into the out-of-way and unexpected places to find the beautiful and the unusual.

Once, in autumn, we went to the pasture field to hunt pawpaws. "Look at the golden meat and the big brown seeds like the seeds of melon or a pumpkin," he said. "Did you ever taste a banana in your life that was as good as a pawpaw? Did you ever see anything prettier than the clean sweet golden fruit of a pawpaw?" I never forgot how he described a pawpaw, and I've always liked their taste.

He took me to the first persimmon grove I ever saw. This was after frost, and the persimmon had ripened and had fallen from the trees. "The persimmon is a candy tree," he said. "It really should have been called the gumdrop tree." I was a small bot then, but ever since I've seen ripe persimmons after frost as brown gumdrops.

I didn't get the idea of dead leaves being golden ships on the sea from a storybook. And neither did my father, for he had never read a book in his life. He'd never had a book read to him either. It was in October, and we were sitting on the bank of W-Branch. We were watching the blue autumn water slide swiftly over the slate rocks. My father picked up leaves that were shaped like little ships and dropped them into the water.

"These are ships on swift water," he told me, "going to far off lands where strangers will see them." He had a special love for autumn leaves, and he'd pick them up when we were out walking and ask me to identify them. He'd talk about how pretty each leaf was and how a leaf was pretier after it was dead than it was alive and growing.

Many people thought my father was just a one-horse farmer who never got much out of life. They saw only a little man, dressed in clean, patched overalls, with callused and brier-scratched hands. They often saw the beard along his face. And they saw him go off and just stand in a field and look at something. They thought he was moody. Well, he was that all right, but when he was standing there and people thought he was looking into space, he was looking at a flower or a mushroom or a new bug he'd discovered for the first time. And when he looked up into a tree, he wasn't searching for a hornet's nest to burn or a bird's nest to rob. He wasn't trying to find a bee tree. He was just looking closely at the beauty in a tree. And among the millions, he always found one different enough to excite him.

No one who really knew him ever felt sorry for my father. Any feeling of pity turned to envy. For my father had a world of his own, larger and richer than the vast earth that world travelers know. He found more beauty in his acres and square miles than poets who have written a half-dozen books. Only my father couldn't write down the words to express his thoughts. He had no common symbols by which to share his wealth. He was a poet who lived his life upon. This earth and never left a line of poetry -- except to those of us who lived with him.

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Jesse Hilton Stuart was born on August 8, 1906, in northeastern Kentucky's Greenup County, where his parents, Mitchell and Martha (Hilton) Stuart, were tenant farmers. Stuart grew up with a strong appreciation for the life lived close to the soil and with a keen awareness of the hardships of rural poverty. Mitchell Stuart could neither read nor write, and Martha had only a second-grade education, but they taught their two sons and three daughters to value education.
He graduated from Greenup High School in 1926 and from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee, in 1929. He then returned to Greenup County to teach. By the end of the 1930s, Stuart had served as a teacher in Greenup County's one-room schools and as high school principal and county school superintendent. These experiences served as the basis for his autobiographical book, The Thread That Runs So True (1949), called by the president of the National Education Association "the best book on education written in the last fifty years." The book helped to dramatize the need for educational reform in Kentucky. By the time it appeared,Stuart had long since left the classroom to devote his time to lecturing and writing. He returned as a high school principal in 1956-57, taught at the University of Nevada in Reno in the 1958 summer term, and served on the faculty of the American University of Cairo in 1960-61.
Stuart began writing stories and poems about the hill people of his section of Kentucky while still a college student. During a year of graduate study at Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 1931-32, Donald Davidson, a poet who was one of his professors, encouraged him to continue writing. Following the private publication of Stuart's Harvest of Youth (poems) in 1930, Man with a Bull-Tongue Plow, poems that celebrate his people and the natural world, appeared in 1934 and was widely praised. Mark Van Doren, for instance, called Stuart an "American" Robert Burns. His autobiography, Beyond Dark Hills, was published in 1938 and his first novel, Trees of Heaven, in 1940. His first short story collection was Head O' W-Hollow (1936), followed by Men of the Mountains (1941) and by more than a dozen other collections in Stuart's lifetime. His published stories-in magazines and in book form-number more than a dozen novels and autobiographical works. Taps For Private Tussie (1943) is an award-winning satirical look at New Deal relief and its effect on man's self-reliance, and God's Oddling (1960) is a biography of Stuart's father. Stuart's books of poetry also include Album of Destiny (1944) and Kentucky Is My Land (1952). He was designated as a poet laureate of Kentucky in 1954 and was made a fellow of the Academy of American Poets in 1961. Stuart also lectured widely for many years, particularly on the subject of education and its value, and wrote a number of highly regarded books for children and youth.
Prominent among the latter are The Beatinest Boy (1953) and A Penny's Worth of Character (1954). Hie to the Hunters, a novel published in 1950, is a celebration of rural life that has been popular with high school readers.
Stuart suffered a major heart attack in 1954. During his convalescence, he produced daily journals that were the basis for The Year of My Rebirth (1956), a book recording his rediscovery of the joy of life.
Stuart died on February 17, 1984, and was buried in Plum Grove Cemetery in Greenup County.

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I hope you have enjoyed this snippet from God's Oddling...this small peek into a wonderful short story about Jesse's father. And a little more information about Jesse Stuart himself.

After reading this I got to thinking how here in our blog world many of us have set goals to simplify our lives...imagine what our lives would be like if we, like Jesse's father, could not read nor write. As I look around me now and think of what my life would be like if that were my situation... I realize that more than 3/4 of what I own would be eliminated from my life...my books would be gone, my computer would be gone, any craft requiring written instructions would be gone...you get my drift. I would keep pictures of things that I could make by looking at the picture. To look at living simply from that perspective is a real eye-opener isn't it?

I highly recommend reading Mr. Stuart's work if you can find them. I found very little when I went looking on the internet to help me with my post, however I did find a web page called: The Open Library Blog - with a goal of "a web page for every book."

ABOUT OPEN LIBRARY: Our goal is to have a page on the web for every book ever published. We want to make sure the catalog is interesting and useful for the world. And free.
One web page for every book ever published. It's a lofty but achievable goal.
To build Open Library, we need hundreds of millions of book records, a wiki interface, and lots of people who are willing to contribute their time and effort to building the site.
To date, we have gathered over 20 million records from a variety of large catalogs as well as single contributions, with more on the way.
Open Library is an open project: the software is open, the data are open, the documentation is open, and we welcome your contribution. Whether you fix a typo, add a book, or write a widget--it's all welcome. We have a small team of fantastic programmers who have accomplished a lot, but we can't do it alone!
Open Library is a project of the non-profit Internet Archive, and has been funded in part by a grant from the California State Library and the Kahle/Austin Foundation.

For more information go to: http://openlibrary.org
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I will be checking to find out what I can do to help get Mr. Stuart's work made available online or to be down loaded to electronic readers.

Something else to think about for the coming new year...volunteering time to help others learn how to read. I remember working with my own children and how exciting it was as each week as they learned new words and brought home different books for us to read together. And I must add what a pleasure it was to do the same with my grandsons. Both my daughters love books as do my grandsons who each have their own library cards!!

What a pleasure it would be to be part of a group who teaches people how to read!

Until later...V

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“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Matthew 5:43-44

God's Oddling by Jesse Stuart - Part 1

2011-12-14T23:32:00.000-05:00

The title of this book comes from something my father used to call my brother and me. For years he used to call me "oddling" because I had gone away to school and become a writer, and because I didn't smoke the tobacco we grew or drink the mountain liquor brewed nearby. I was recovering from my heart attack when my father died. During those last days he used to come visit me at my house, and he still called me "oddling." It was then, just before he died, that I thought my father was one of God's oddlings, not me. He was a proud, independent man, who always made his own decisions and went his own way. He was a very gentle man, too. He was an oddling, all right.

I have chosen this excerpt from God's Oddling for you to read. I hope you will get a picture of my father and of what life was like for the Stuart family beside the Big Sandy River in the eastern Kentucky mountains long ago.

The Earth Poet
This excerpt describes my father and his love and appreciation for the land.
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Many people thought my father was just a one-horse farmer who never got much out of life. They saw only a little man, dressed in clean, patched overalls, with callused and brier-scratched hands.
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We lived by signs or what people now would call superstitions. When I was old enough to learn anything, I learned to respect the peewees. My father and mother loved those birds. And, in the little house where I lived until I was nine, a pair came each spring. My father used to say, "Must be time to plow the garden, our peewees are back." Nothing, no sign or indication, escaped my father. I recall he always told me to expect rain when the leaves spiraled up toward the sky, and so whenever I see oak leaves twisting up from the strong, sturdy boughs, turning over and showing their soapy bellies to the wind and hot sun, I know that a storm is coming and I remember my father.

Nothing ever escaped my father for he was an earth poet who loved the land and everything on it. He liked to watch things grow. From the time I was big enough for him to lead me by the hand, I went with him over the farm. If I couldn't walk all the way in those early days, he'd carry me on his back. I learned to love many of the things he loved.

I went with my father to so many fields over the years and listened to him talk so often about their beauty that I know now that he had wonderful thoughts which should have been written down. Thoughts came to him faster than a humming-bird flits from one blossom to another.

Sometime in the dim past of my boyhood, my father unloaded me from his back under some white-oak trees just beginning to leaf. "Look at this hill, son," he said, gesturing broadly with a sweep of his hand. "Look up that steep hill toward the sky. See how pretty that new grown corn is."

This is the first field I can remember my father taking me to see. The rows of corn curved like dark-green rainbows around a high slope with a valley and its little tributaries running down through the center. The corn blades rustled in the wind, and my father said he could understand what the corn blades were saying. He told me they whispered to each other, and this was hard for me to believe. I reasoned that before anything could speak or make a sound it had to have a mouth. When my father said the corn could talk, I got down on my knees and I looked a stalk over.

"This corn hasn't got a mouth," I told my father. "How can anything talk when it doesn't have a mouth?"

He laughed like the wind in the corn and hugged me to his knees, and we went on.

On a Sunday, when my mother and sisters were at church, my father took me by the hand and led me across two valleys to a cove where once giant beech timber had stood. He was always restless on Sundays, eager to get back to the fields in which he worked all week. He had cleared a piece of this land to raise white corn, which he planned to have ground for meal to make our bread. He thought this cove was suited to white corn. He called it Johnson County corn. Someone had brought the seed from the Big Sandy River, in the county where my father was born and lived until he was sixteen. When he had cleared this cove, set fire to the giant beech tops, and left ash over the new ground, he thought this earth would produce cornfield beans too. In every other hill of corn he had planted beans. Now these beans ran up the cornstalks and weighted them with hanging pods of young, tender beans. Pictures I saw later of Jack and the Beanstalk always reminded me of this tall corn with bean vines winding around the stalks up to the tassels.

But the one thing my father had brought me to see that delighted him most was the pumpkins. I'd never seen so many pumpkins with long necks and small bodies. Pumpkins as big around as the bottom of a flour barrel were sitting in the furrows beneath the tall corn, immovable as rocks. There were pumpkins, and more pumpkins, of all colors - yellow and white, green and brown.

"Look at this, won't you," my father said. "Look what corn, what beans, what pumpkins. Corn ears so big they lean the cornstalks. Beans as thich as honey-locust beans on the honey-locust tree. And pumpkins thicker than the stumps in this new ground. I could walk all over this field on pumpkins and never step on the ground."

----------------------------
To be Continued in my next post...
----------------------------

Hope you enjoyed this small part of the excerpt about Jesse Stuart's father, Mitchell Stuart.

I have a fondness for Kentucky because that is where. I was born and most of my immediate family still live there, some of which have never lived anywhere else.

I only lived in Kentucky for the first 12 years of my life, having moved to Georgia where I only lived for about 8 years then 3 years after my first husband and I married we moved with our two young daughters to West Virginia, where I lived for about the next 20 years of my life.

Unfortunately Kentucky and West Virginia both get made fun of often in an unkind way, but both states have "salt-of-the-earth" kind of folks who will go out of their way to help you but do not "suffer fools gladly!" I have been blessed to have lived in both states!

Come back tomorrow for the rest of this small bit from "God's Oddling."

Until later...V

- - - - - - - - - - - -

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Mark 9:50

Found Treasure from My Childhood

2011-12-13T01:53:00.000-05:00

One of my things in my childhood did not become a favorite until I was introduced to an author by the name of Jesse Stuart.

Before this discovery I did not particularly care for "library" days when it was my class's turn to go. I usually checked out the same easy books all the time because at first so many books to choose from was too overwhelming to me.

Then, fortunately for me the librarian took pity on me and took a few moments to ask me what type of books I liked to read...and although I do not remember what I told her I came away with a book by Jesse Stuart...which forever changed my attitude about checking out books from the school library.

I don't know how the librarian determined that this author would be a good match for me but I'm so glad she did!

Now, on to the treasure I found...

It was during one of my visits to my daughter and son-in-laws house in Canton, NC (Bev and Lynn) - before running errands we stopped at the recycling station to drop of the recyclables and while there we always look through the magazine bin. Bev often finds such good magazines and on several ocassions has even found cookbooks no longer wanted by their owners. Collecting cookbooks is a passion of hers so this thrills her no end. And on this day I found a copy of a Jesse Stuart Reader - which thrilled ME no end!! I could not believe my good fortune!! Holding that book in my hand I felt light-headed as my memory took me zooming back to my childhood and I saw myself clutching this authors books while waiting in line to check them out.

I read every book of his that our small library at Rineyville Elementry carried and would often ask if there were any other books by him that we may have missed. I'm sure I became a pest about it because the librarian next introduced me to Laura Ingals Wilder...which I also fell in love with and as we, who are fans of hers, know there were enough books by her to keep me happily reading for the remainder of the school year! And as much as I love the "Little House" series ~ there will always be that special place in my heart for my first discovery and love of the words penned by Jesse Stuart!

Do you have a favorite author or special library memory? Please feel free to share your special memory in the comments below!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Many of you may never have heard of Jesse Stuart as he is a writer from Kentucky. Here's a small bit about him...

Jesse Hilton Stuart (August 8, 1907 – February 17, 1984) was an American writer who is known for writing short stories, poetry, and novels about Southern Appalachia. Born and raised in Greenup County, Kentucky, Stuart relied heavily on the rural locale of Northeastern Kentucky for his writings.[1] Stuart was named the Poet Laureate of Kentucky in 1954.[2] He died at Jo-Lin nursing home in Ironton, Ohio, which is near his boyhood home.

In my next post I'll share an excerpt that he wrote about his father.

Until later...V

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people...
Luke 2:10

Just checking in...

2011-12-10T05:00:00.001-05:00

I see it has been awhile since I've posted so thought I'd use my Blackberry to say "Hello!"

As some of you may already know I recently had back surgery (1 month ago today) and I live with my daughter Becky and her husband James and my two grandsons. I am so grateful to be here with them that words fail to express just how much this has meant to me! They both lead such crazy busy lives yet have welcomed me into their home without breaking stride nor a moments hesitation - for this I am ever so humbly grateful. And I pray God's generous blessings on them.

I had a rough couple of days but am getting thru them by reading comforting Scriptures, listening to some older sermons on CD that I purchased from our used book store this past summer by Dr. Charles Stanley of InTouch.org and I've also gotten thru these rough days by texting my daughter, Bev and my neice, Tina. I am especially happy to be reconnecting with my other sisters as well. I must confess that I have let the "hectic-ness" of my life over the years prevent me from keeping in better touch with my sisters and am slowly by surely trying to change that.

I have such amazing hard working generous sisters - two of whom you have heard of: Sue @ Life is a Journey and Mary @ Nails in My Pocket. The other two sisters: Rita and Stacey live in Kentucky also and although neither of them have blogs, do so many interesting things that I think they should have blogs! I may try to get photos of things they work on from time to time just to share with you next year!

My sisters never cease to amaze me with their resourcefulness! They could have invented the phrase: "Make it do, wear it out, use it up, do without!" (I think I got that right.)

We all are very fortunate to have learned how to think up new uses for old things!

I read a article title somewhere recently that said something about a decorating budget and really had to laugh. I'm sorry but never in my home record keeping was there ever a line titled "decorating!" My "decorating" material come from my quilt scrap bag mostly and whatever I made that could be listed as decorating always had a useful purpose.
Like potholders to match my curtains or embroidery on plain old sheet to make a tablecloth. I remember folding small circles of fabric to make folded star potholders that when not in use were hung on the wall for decor. I even made clusters of fabric strawberries to use as curtain tie backs. In my mind everything had to be dual purpose. The joy of making such small things was doubled by using them everyday. I was always a morning person when my girls were small and words fail me to describe the joy and contentment of puttering around in the kitchen in the mornings making coffee and packing lunches among the things that helped make our little kitchen so bright and cheery. I would say by the nations measuring stick we were poor but even tho there were times of struggle there were always small things that brought bursts of joy and happiness! Being taught how to be resourceful is a gift that has kept me going over the years and as my sister, Sue says "sometimes I just can't sleep because I'm excited and anxious to get started on some 'new' project."

We are indeed 5 sisters/daughters who have been greatly blessed by this "gift!" Thanks Mom for your part in helping us learn this and for always encouraging us to (as they say today): Think outside the box!!

Wishing you all a day full of exciting ideas! Go out and make something useful AND pretty...better yet teach someone else how to do it too!

Happy Saturday, all!

Until later...V

--------

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning; and your faithfulness at night,to the music of the ten-stringed lyre; and the melody of the harp.
Psalm 92:1-3

Jesus is the Reason for the Season

2011-12-04T01:45:00.001-05:00

Coming so recently from the table of Thanksgiving let us prepare our hearts for the Advent season now upon us!

Let us review a short reminder of "How to Experience Christ's Peace" during the coming days ahead. Let us not get so wrapped up in the busy-ness of shopping, baking, etc at this time that we forget God's process of making us more Christ-like everyday. Let us reach out to our fellow believers that they may be encouraged in this race called life and may we walk our Christian walk in such a way as to bring glory and honor to our Lord and inspire other non-believers to join us as followers of Christ!

--------

"My peace I give to you" John 14:27

Jesus spoke these amazing words just hours before His crucifixion. His peace isn't dependent upon external circumstances, but rather, it transcends them. Although He gives His peace to every believer as a gift, our experience of it is related to our faith in the following truths:

1) God is in control of everything.
Without this assurance, the world is a scary place.

2) He loves me and will see me through all circumstances,
No matter how difficult or painful they may be.

3) To have Christ's peace, I must yield my life to Him.
When I hold onto my ways and plans, I'll experience turmoil.

4) I have a limited perspective...
And understanding of my circumstances and God's purposes for allowing them. His goals for me are greater than my immediate comfort.

5) The Lord promises to work all things out for my good.
He is continually acting to conform me to Christ's image.

6) I must live in sync with God...
Walking in the Spirit and promptly confessing and repenting of sin.

7) Scripture is my foundation for peace.
It increases my trust in the Lord's goodness, assures me that He keeps His promises, and reminds me of His sovereignty over every situation.

It would be good to print each reminder on a 3"x5" card and go over them occassionally during the weeks ahead and especially on into the new year!

May you have an abundance of Joy & Peace to share during this holiday season!

Until later...V

------
Note: the seven reminders listed above come from the Devotional for December 22, 2011 (InTouch magazine entitled "The Person of Christ")

Come Ye Thankful People Come

2011-11-13T20:08:00.001-05:00

Come Ye Thankful People Come

Come, ye thankful people, come,

Raise the song of harvest home;

All is safely gathered in

Ere the winter storms begin.

God, our Maker, doth provide

For our wants to be supplied;

Come to God's own temple, come

Raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God's own field,

Fruit unto His praise to yield;

Wheat and tares together sown,

Unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade and then the ear,

Then the full corn shall appear;

Lord of harvest, grant that we

Wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,

And shall take His harvest home;

From His field shall in that day

All offenses purge away;

Give His angels charge at last

In the fire the tares to cast,

But the fruitful ears to store

In His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come,

To Thy final harvest home;

Gather Thou Thy people in,

Free from sorrow, free from sin;

There, forever purified,

In Thy presence to abide;

Come, with all Thine angels, come

Raise the glorious harvest home.

Come, Ye Thankful People Come

Henry Alford, 1810–1871

The first thanksgiving was decreed by Governor Bradford in 1621 to commemorate the Pilgrims’ harvest. Later George Washington proclaimed November 26, 1789, as a national day of thanksgiving, but the holiday was not repeated on a national basis until Abraham Lincoln named it a national Harvest Festival on November 26, 1861. After that time, the holiday was proclaimed annually by the President and the governors of each state. Finally in 1941, Congress passed a bill naming the fourth Thursday of each November as Thanksgiving Day.

I am thankful this day because my surgery is now behind me and the mending part begins.

The mending part will be a slow process however it was a slow process getting to this point so I am familiar with slow processes.

I am here with my family and I am thankful for that...many people have to go through this process without family near them. So I am very thankful for my family.

I am thankful for the modern technology that made it possible for me to come home so quickly and I am thankful that my doctor had experienced knowledgeable hands.

I am thankful for all the kindness I was shown in the hospital...I had many loving hands helping me...even a fellow quilter I might add...she and I talked of our favorite patterns.

I am especially thankful that God put all the right people in the right place at the right time!!

Thank you Lord for that!!

I'm off to lie back down almost time for my next pain pill before bedtime.

Hope everyone is having a great Sunday and have found much to be thankful for today!!

Until later...V

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you.

Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Ephesians 5:4

Thrifty finds...

2011-11-09T14:54:00.000-05:00

The cover was in really bad shape so I just threw it away...

You can see the fine dust there at the end where the cover had turned to dust

And you can also see the dust on the sidewalk too


The legs are a little wobbly but can be easily tightened up.

The color is still nice as you can see.

The price is there on the leg...yes, that's right...only $6!!


This is the label stamped on the under side.

I couldn't find anything about it online...not enough info I guess.

Yankee Candle shade for jar candles is turned on its side and the little jar is for honey. The mat they are sitting on is also a find...I love the brown mixed with the aqua. Not colors I would have chosen but I do like the combination.

Not sure what kind of wire basket...got it for my cookbooks.

It has a nice handle. The muffin tin is for Bev to make her wax-dipped pine cone fire-starters again this year. The little pie tins were just too precious to pass up for 69 cents each.

The brown maple leaf is the top of a stack of 4 ~ may be place mats ~

not sure, just liked the maple leaf in brown.

This is the flower print of the little napkin at the corner of the table in the above photo.

Here's the candle shade on an old 1/2 gallon pickle jar.

with candle...

with lit candle...

I haven't decided how to use these treasures yet...I know what I like regarding decorating when I see it on other blogs but have a hard time applying it to my own surroundings...I guess it's something that sort of evolves over time...I must be patient.

Hope everyone is having a Happy Wednesday!!

until later...V

“Come now, let’s settle this,”
      says the Lord.
   “Though your sins are like scarlet,
      I will make them as white as snow.
   Though they are red like crimson,
      I will make them as white as wool."

Isaiah 1:18

It is never too late to start doing what is right.

2011-11-09T02:18:00.000-05:00

Jonah ~ Chapter 3

The the LORD spoke to Johan again: "Go to that great city, Nineveh," he said, "and warn them of their doom, as I told you to before!"
So Jonah obeyed, and went to Nineveh. No Nineveh was a very large city, with extensive suburbs - so large that it would take three days to walk around it.
But the very first day when Jonah entered the city and began to preach, the people repented. Jonah shouted to the crowds that gathered around him, "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!" And they believed him and declared a fast; from the king on down, everyone put on sackcloth - the rough, coarse garments worn at times of mourning.
For when the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and laid aside his royal robes and put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. And the king and his nobles sent this message throughout the city: "Let no one, not even the animals, eat anything at all, nor even drink any water. Everyone must wear sackcloth and cry mightily to God, and let everyone turn from his evil ways, from his violence and robbing. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will decide to let us live, and will hold back his fierce anger from destroying us."
And when God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he abandoned his plan to destroy them, and didn't carry it through.

So often we only remember the part in Jonah about him being swallowed by the whale...which is pretty amazing in and of itself, however it is even more amazing to me that a city the size of Nineveh (a city so large that it would take three days to walk around it) would listen to Jonah that very first day that he began to preach to them...the message from God...and put on sackcloth...everyone from the king on down...and repent of their sins and were spared. To me that is the amazing thing about it all...that is what Jonah was upset about. So much so that in the next chapter this is what Jonah had to say...

...He complained to the Lord about it: "This is exactly what I thought you'd do, Lord, when I was there in my own country and you first told me to come here. That's why I ran away to Tarshish. For I knew you were a gracious God, merciful, slow to get angry, and full of kindness; I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people.

Then the Lord said, "Is it right to be angry about this?"

The next few verses give the scenario of Jonah sitting and sulking in the shade. God causes the plant to wither and die taking Jonah's shelter from the heat away.

Then the Lord said, "You feel sorry for yourself when your shelter is destroyed, though you did no work to put it there, and it is, at best, short-lived. And why shouldn't I feel sorry for a great city like Nineveh with its 120,000 people in utter spiritual darkness, and all its cattle?"

I read the title to my post somewhere recently: "It is never too late to start doing what is right" and it struck such a cord with me that I grabbed a scrap of paper and wrote it down. I even typed it up and enlarged the font and taped it where I could see it every day to remind me that no matter what happens in my life every day that it is never too late to start doing what is right.

So often we get discouraged by hearing about and reading the bad news going on in this world that we forget that one person doing what is right is encouraging to others and in turn reminds them that one person can make a difference.

Let us be thankful for all our blessings today and always!

Until later...V

Let us come to him with thanksgiving.

Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

Psalm 95:2

The Old Rugged Cross

2011-11-06T19:12:00.000-05:00

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

The emblem of suffering and shame;

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,

To bear it to dark Calvary.

In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,

Such a wonderful beauty I see;

For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,

To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,

Its shame and reproach gladly bear;

Then He'll call me some day to my home far way,

Where His glory forever I'll share.

Chorus:

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,

Till my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it someday for a crown.

The Old Rugged Cross

Words and Music by George Bennard, 1873–1958

The author and composer of this hymn, George Bennard, began his Christian ministry in the ranks of the Salvation Army. Eight years later he was ordained by the Methodist Episcopal church, where he served as an evangelist for many years.

At one time, Bennard passed through a particularly trying experience, one that caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and he began to spend long hours in study, prayer, and meditation until one day he could say:

I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form and act out the meaning of redemption. The more I contemplated these truths the more convinced I became that the cross was far more than just a religious symbol but rather the very heart of the gospel.

During these days of spiritual struggle, the theme for “The Old Rugged Cross” began to formulate itself in Bennard’s mind. But an inner voice seemed to keep telling him to “wait.” Finally, however, after returning to his home in Michigan, he began to concentrate anew on his project. This time the words and melody began to flow easily from his heart. Shortly thereafter, Bennard sent a manuscript copy to Charles Gabriel, one of the leading gospel hymn writers of that time. Gabriel’s prophetic words, “You will certainly hear from this song, Mr. Bennard,” were soon realized as the hymn became one of the most widely published songs, either sacred or secular, throughout America.

Now with the new time change it is dark when I get off from work...

so I'm in for the night...cozy and settled in to work on my afghan.

Hope everyone had a pleasant Sunday.

Until later...V

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

1 Peter 2:24

The Blind Quilter...

2011-11-05T07:55:00.001-04:00

Prepare to be inspired...

until later...V

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
Hebrews 10:24

[ A Call to Listen to God ]

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14

Making signs...

2011-11-04T14:17:00.002-04:00

I've given my hands a break from embroidery and printed out these [above] on parchment type paper for my little frames. This font is called FontleroyBrown.

I especially like the font on this one above...its called Berylium.

The pattern for this had been waiting in the wings for a while and on my day off yesterday I found a piece of wood large enough to trace and cut out. It's the & sign in Bangle bold. I've seen & signs before and I've seen @ signs...just wanted to try my hand at it.

It's just held up with push pins right now...need to put a little saw tooth hanger on the back.

I also made this below a few days ago for a woman I work with...

This one is embroidery...

This is about all I'm working on right now.

I received a new book to review in the mail the other day...

I'll be reading instead of crafting for a bit.

Got this from Booksneeze.com - see my side bar for more info...

I also received this book below from another Paperback Swap member...

...its filled with lots of patterns and ideas. Paperbackswap.com is a great place to exchange books with fellow members...for just the cost of shipping..mine usually run about $2.82 each...that seems to be the price of most of the ones I get in the mail.

I have 3 more books on the way...

Treasury of Country Crafts and Foods

and this

American Country Folk Crafts

and this one:

Scroll Saw Pattern Book

I enjoy working with wood and hope to find some patterns that I can turn into "Primitive" crafts...on the primitive topic...I've added "A Primitive Place and Country Journal: Home and Garden Magazine" to my side bar and spent some time looking around there yesterday. I was inspired enough to get out my sketch pad and start drawing ideas...something I haven't done in a VERY LONG time. I have ideas for benches, signs and other things I hope to work on in the upcoming year, if the Lord is willing!

Well, I'll get off here for now...hope everyone is having a good Friday...enjoy your weekend!

Until later...V

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Coming Along...

2011-11-02T20:03:00.001-04:00

Until later...V

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.

Psalm 62:5

To "Life is a Journey" with Sympathy

2011-10-30T08:24:00.001-04:00

My sister, Sue and her husband lost a beloved pet this past week and our love and prayers go out to them during this time.

Their little dog, Sarah, passed this week. She was the best companion for my sister and brother-in-law Hershell. She went everywhere with Hershell on his 4-wheeler and in his truck.

Little Sarah was such a delight to all she met and will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her.

Love to you Sue and Hershell...

Softly and Tenderly

2011-10-30T07:51:00.000-04:00

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,

Calling for you and for me;

See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,

Watching for you and for me.

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,

Pleading for you and for me?

Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,

Mercies for you and for me?

Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,

Passing from you and from me;

Shadows are gathering, death's night is coming,

Coming for you and for me.

O for the wonderful love He has promised,

Promised for you and for me!

Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,

Pardon for you and for me.

Chorus:

Come home, come home,

Ye who are weary, come home;

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,

Calling, O sinner, come home!

Softly and Tenderly

Words and Music by Will L. Thompson, 1847–1909

The author and composer of this hymn, Will L. Thompson, was known as the “Bard of Ohio” for his respected musical talents. He wrote many successful secular and sacred songs and he edited and published numerous collections. But it is said of him that his greatest joy was writing and performing simple gospel songs about his Lord. He has provided Christian hymnody with two such enduring songs that have been mightily used by God: A testimony song for Christians, “Jesus Is All the World to Me,” and an invitation song that has been influential in directing non-Christians to the Savior, “Softy and Tenderly.”

The story is told of a visit that Will Thompson made to D. L. Moody’s bedside as the famed evangelist lay dying. All visitations had been stopped, but when Moody heard that Will Thompson had called, he insisted upon seeing him. “Will,” said Moody, “I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life!” Soon the well-known evangelist entered his eternal rest with these words of invitation that had been used so many times in his evangelistic campaigns once again upon his lips: “Come home, come home, ye who are weary, come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling—calling, ‘O sinner, come home.’ ”

I agree with Mr. Moody on his statement: “I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life!” If I could imagine writing just one song I would want that one song to be one that would draw others to Christ.

One of the things that Jesus said for his followers to do was to share the Good News of God's Kingdom. I look at my life and really feel like all I've done is make a mess of my life and not really done my part to share this Good News.

To me my life looks like this:

I pray that by God's hand it will some day look like this to him:

http://leonacraig.com/catalogue_art_gallery/wall_art/xiangxiu_embroidery_page_2.htm

May you find joy today among the tangled threads of life...

Until later...V

God, when I am faced with failure, help me to respond in a way that honors You. I pray that You would give me wisdom for handling the challenges of living in this world. Amen.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2

Winter is on its way...

2011-10-29T19:25:00.000-04:00

Just got off work a bit ago...did some scheduling of appointments in the Pennsylvania area...it was snowing there today so some of the appointments were canceled due to the weather...on down into Maryland area they were getting rain and snow mixed...so again some cancellations due to the bad weather...

Well folks it looks like winter is on its way!!

Bev even sent me a text message today that said, "It's snowing!!" As you may know she lives east of us in Canton, NC...just past Asheville, NC where the Biltmore is.

I don't need to tell you how much I'm enjoying having the crochet afghan to work on right now. I just spread it across my lap and enjoy the warmth while I'm working.

Loving this cooler weather...and snow always adds a bit of excitement to the air this time of year when our thoughts are turning to Thanksgiving and Christmas!!

Hope everyone had a pleasant Saturday!!

Take care!

Until later...V

When people’s lives please the Lord,

even their enemies are at peace with them.

Proverbs 16:7

Thankful for small accomplishments...

2011-10-28T08:12:00.000-04:00

Took the time yesterday, on my day off, to stain this small collection of frames.

Trying to decide how and what to put in them.

Got these from the library to learn how to frame the embroidery pieces.

This "Kitchen" framed piece is printed on parchment paper.

Gotta run...off to work today.

Until later...V

“As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.”And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.”

1 Peter 1:24-25 NLT

Afghan progress...

2011-10-25T20:30:00.000-04:00

I really like the way this one is coming together...

Until later...V

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart;
good news makes for good health.

Proverbs 15:30

Thought Provoking

2011-10-24T08:00:00.093-04:00

Book Review #1

Afraid to Believe in Free Will

The Human Tendency to Avoid Responsibility for Free Choices

By Carl E. Begley
Published by WestBow Press

Book Description

Are we afraid of freedom? Psychologically speaking, Carl E. Begley thinks so. Free will is a frightening yet magnificent part of what it means to be human. In fact, it is our fear of freedom which may keep us from reaching our full potential. When we let go of that fear, take responsibility for our choices and stop making excuses, we can enjoy the optimism that comes with personal empowerment. Uncover the reasons why we stifle ourselves with fear and follow Begley’s recommended path to free ourselves from fear and obtain our God-given freedom

This reader’s review

According to the author the issue of “free will” is that it cannot be measured in and of itself, however, “belief in free will, and why it matters, can be examined.”

The book starts out really heavy and gives a lot of references to what “great thinkers” in the field of psychology have thought regarding “free will.”.

Further along in chapter five the author goes into detail regarding how “free will” is at work in our society and the results of that “free will.”

People will continue to do what they do as long as they are getting some benefit from what they are doing. I think that applies to “free will” in the sense of whether people choose to do something or not. Choosing NOT to do something is still a "free will" choice.

I found chapter 5 especially interesting. The author goes into how "free will" choice has affected our society. I agree with his observations in why people in society make some of the choices that they do.

Even though I do not agree with everything the author has written his observations do give much to think about regarding humans and the “free will” issue.

The book is interesting and does give us reason to pause and examine our motives for doing what we do everyday.

I will warn you… it is NOT a quick read.

Until later...V

In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Thankful for small accomplishments...

Afghan progress...

Thought Provoking

Book Review #1

Afraid to Believe in Free Will

The Human Tendency to Avoid Responsibility for Free Choices

By Carl E. Begley Published by WestBow Press

Book Description

This reader’s review

By Carl E. Begley
Published by WestBow Press