Katherine J Masters

Throw Out the Old???

2023-12-07T11:35:00.000-06:00

Old things.... For you, do they seem interesting and like a mystery to explore?... or just outdated "junk"? I admit that I find it intriguing to see stuff from an earlier time. I enjoy seeing the items that were once used on a regular basis, and notice the difference in such a time period from the one in which we now live.

I know there is a big push in today's world for minimalism and throwing out all the old stuff, as well as labeling many people as "hoarders", shaming them to get rid of excess.

Is excess stuff a problem? Yes, it can be.

Is all old stuff bad? No.

Is all new stuff good? No, of course not.

Like most things in life, balance is needed, and so is common sense, which isn't so common anymore.

These pictures are of a recreated old "General Store" that was once a common sight. Items were sold that were necessary for everyday life, as well as a few luxuries or pretties, but the main things people shopped for, were the necessities, and a luxury was rather rare... and treasured.

One thing I notice about the "old things" is the quality of the workmanship, the detail and creativity in the design, even in simple everyday things. There is a beauty to these long-lasting everyday items. Ceilings had some beautiful workmanship (I love those old tin ceilings!), furniture had some embellishments, and little decorative touches could be found on many utilitarian items. Flour sacks were made with floral patterns so that the purchaser could use them to make dresses when empty and tins to store items had beautiful designs.

Our current world emphasizes Minimalism, but it also emphasizes new and more... so it is common to get new things several times a year. We have stores full of cheap things to buy(many of which are junk), that will soon be replaced with more, so things need to be sorted and removed so we can be "minimal", "and have room for more stuff!!!"

Hmmm, it makes me think that Minimalism (true minimalism) could possibly have more to do with being content with what we have and stepping off of the needing "more" idea or the "new is better" idea.

Does everything "old" need to be thrown out? No, though it may be helpful to pare down the number of beautiful old things that are saved. In today's world, there is advertising that pushes the idea of "more" and "new is better" and tries to get us dissatisfied with what we have, so we will buy what the advertiser is selling . Sales are huge at holidays and stuff is emphasized. New games are pushed, new appliances that are not so different from the old ones (though they may have some added feature that we didn't realize we "needed" until the advertising convinced us and it then became important to attain).

In our world, many are eagerly throwing out their parent's stuff, the things they worked to attain, used and appreciated. When a parent dies, it seems to be the "enlightened" thing to get rid of all of that "old and outdated" stuff.

The generations that are now leaving this world, leave a rich heritage in work ethic, in saving money, being frugal, being wise, being satisfied, doing without when necessary, living with difficulties and helping things to change for the better. I don't mean that all people of these generations are admirable, but the generations now dying off are known for these things. My dad was one of those men who had to learn to do a bit of "everything", a "jack of all trades" sort of man, and we meet many of those older men who were the same. It has become a lost art as now we need to hire a "specialist" to do things.

Those older people have such stories to share and wisdom to impart.

Gathering around the checkerboard or sitting around the fire used to be a time of sharing, talking, solving problems, and just spending time together. Maybe we would benefit from more of that, rather than just finding more "stuff" to enjoy.... maybe we should learn to enjoy people.... older and younger.

If you also appreciate old stuff- vintage and antique, you may enjoy the Christian fiction book,

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

There are many fun things in the book and the exploring of an old house is delightful. Join Emily as she discovers the old house and its treasures and also discovers treasures in people along the way.

Weeding the Useless to Nourish the Good

2023-09-29T07:14:00.000-05:00

What a blessing it is that God is my strength and I do love Him. He is the One who teaches me to love Him and guides me in my spiritual growth. I can let Him work in me or I can hinder the process by not cooperating.

Sometimes, I think I know what I want and I ask for it, feeling ready to reject what doesn't fit my plan, but what if that which doesn't fit MY plan is actually GOD's plan for my life?

The world has much darkness and at times, the light seems dim, but God is always there and He sees just as well in the darkness as in the light. What a blessing to know and believe that! Living for Him and accepting His will can be scary and yet, it is always the best for us.

Being assured of walking in the way HE has for me is so much better than the plan I have come up with and I do well to submit to His will as it is always better than mine.

Weeds are plentiful this time of year as fall is here. I know that many "weeds" are good for our health or other purposes and I am thankful for many plants that most people would label "weeds". However, when we nourish a weed that is dangerous or of no use, we set ourselves up for trouble. This picture is of a "weed" out on some country property and it appealed because of the soft hairs that filled the pods. Is it good or not? I really don't know as I haven't researched it... yet. Someday, I may research it and may find another useful herb for my large medicinals collection that we use regularly... or I may find that I want to avoid it.

Weeds in our life can cause even more problems as they can deter us from our purpose or distract us from what is better. I sure wouldn't want to nourish something that is useless. Sometimes, we can do that in our lives. It could be time wasting, or an unhealthy curiosity that leads us where we shouldn't go. It could be an addiction problem of some kind or toxic emotions allowed to grow. So many possibilities.

When we weed out the weeds and nourish the good things, we will see growth in our spiritual lives... and fruit that comes from God. Maybe it's time to search for any weeds, see if we would be better off without them, and deal quickly with them, so we can start to thrive.

If you have identified any weeds to deal with or have seen God work in your life so that growth could happen, I would love to hear about it in the comments. Today is another day that we can serve our Lord. I hope you are living a thriving life this week and if challenges are there, I hope you will determine to follow God's will for your life.

~Blessings to you,

Katherine

An Old-Fashioned Christmas Tale

2021-11-29T17:33:00.000-06:00

Poor Chris tried so hard, but couldn't seem to do anything right. He was clumsy even while eager to help. Chris lived many years ago on a run-down old farm with his mom, dad and brothers.

This is a kids' book with a sweet story of how Chris learns the real meaning of Christmas. The book is illustrated with simple paintings and small pictures are included as extras for young ones to find and point out. This book is wonderful for parents and grandparents to read to children. The children will enjoy the story of Chris' trouble and the solution and will find Chris to be a likeable little guy.

A fun book for kids and enjoyed by all ages. An old-fashioned Christmas tale. A wonderful gift in either print form or ebook.

Order from Amazon on the link. Chris' Mess? No, It's Christmas!

Chris' Mess? No, It's Christmas!

WHAT Is "Thankful Stew"???

2021-11-15T19:03:00.005-06:00

Last night, we received one of those horrible calls telling us that two of our adult children had been in an accident after hitting a deer. It was dark on a highway, and they were going 70 mph when a deer ran right in front of them.

Our family is close... and we all headed for the accident site... married son and his wife from one direction.... another son from another direction had just ordered pizza and was headed to get it, but diverted to drive the 30 minutes to the site. My husband and I and 2 of our other kids headed out from another direction to drive the 30 miles. (That was a LONG 30 miles!). Details were sketchy.... we just knew that the car was totalled.

Married son and his wife got to the scene first as they were only about 15 minutes away. They called and said our daughter was sore, but okay and son looked awful with black eye, cut and bleeding hand. Police had arrived on scene...... Second son arrived a bit later... we were about 10 minutes out still... learned more and became more anxious to get there. Found out police objected to the 2 vehicles on site and said we couldn't come. Oh, my.... Panic for all as I needed to evaluate injuries and because we all wanted to be together. Driving by the accident site was hard ... and we really couldn't see anything except for the car in the median and police lights because it was so dark.

Talk on the phone with those on site brought the plan of running to the closest store a few miles away and getting frozen peas or corn to use as ice bags for the injured. We rushed to an Aldi and the son and daughter with us, ran inside... no peas, corn or mixed vegetables, but they were able to get 2 bags of frozen green beans. They rushed to the checkout where a nice person let them go ahead since they only had 2 things, Son thanked them and said it was for an emergency. The lady told the cashier to just charge her for them and told our son and daughter to go... and she would be praying and hoped the family would be okay. What a blessing on a very hard evening.

Back in the van, we went to the accident site which was from the other direction... and pulled off the highway on the median enough to let me, our son, the big flashlights, green beans and first aid kit out, then husband and daughter went to next exit and pulled down exit ramp to be close enough to see lights though it was too dark to see anything else.

Checking my kids over, touching them, seeing them, was a relief... and it also set in as to what had happened, especially when I saw the inside of the car with the blown airbags. While waiting for the tow truck, they kept busy trying to figure out the accident pattern, looked for vehicle parts and tried to figure out the accident path. The officer had left by then and it was really dark, other than the flashing lights on my sons' trucks and flashlights. I called my husband on the phone and updated him as we found out more... and on the physical condition of our kids. Son kept saying he was fine, but looked awful... plan was to evaluate in better light... since he was able to function.

When the tow truck finally came and pulled the car up on the truckbed with a winch, my guys discovered the missing front bumper... it was under the car. My son did a good job of keeping some control of the car, but the deer hit happened and air bags blew, so they couldn't see... reconstruction showed what happened. They came close to hitting guard rails next to the bridge abutment, then into the median where a metal culvert was in place which they hit, went airborne and landed... and finally stopped. Oh my!

After the tow truck left, we all got in the 3 vehicles and left to go to Walmart to use the bathroom, see that everyone was okay and get into the correct vehicles to head home(no one could get into the van with my husband since we couldn't cross the highway.). The 9 of us stood in a circle in the front of Walmart as my husband prayed and we thanked God for His mercies. My son who had ordered the pizza had received a call from the pizza place that his order was ready... while at the accident site. He told them he couldn't come to get it because of the accident. The manager told him they would just refund the money he had paid and he hoped all went well. So nice to have kind people, especially on such a rough evening.

A rough evening.... but we could be planning a funeral or two of them today... but we aren't. That's where the "Thankful Stew" comes in. I made homemade stew and also used those green beans bought for us by that precious woman. Tonight, we will have stew and maybe cornbread... and we will continue to thank God.

Son and daughter are very sore today.. son was determined to go to work today and he did. I appreciate his work ethic, but do not think he should have gone. He is an adult though and so I just watch and pray. His eye is very bruised from his glasses... those airbags sure did a lot of damage, but maybe they saved my kids from worse damage. We are thankful.

One of my sons works at a body shop and has said many times in the last month that they have been swamped with deer hits... and to be careful. He said this is more than they normally see... and the totaled car was towed to that body shop... they also had another vehicle towed in from a deer hit, today. He said that the damage seems worse this year... the deer hit cars are damaged worse than usual.. my son's had 6 airbags blow, which represents a lot of money.

We are still learning more about the accident as they remember more... it all happened so fast and they keep going over it trying to remember it all. One thing we learned was that a man who was driving near them, stopped right after the accident, saying he had seen the whole thing and was willing to be a witness if he was needed. He gave my son his contact information. God sure put several people in place to bless us last night.

Anyway, we are thankful, so we are having "Thankful Stew". (By the way, my daughters just tested the stew and said it was great... and one of them made cornbread to go with it.) We thank God for His mercy to us last night and will sure enjoy the "Thankful Stew", in a few minutes, and cornbread with family together as we remember the blessings among the difficulties of the accident.

Thank you for visiting... I would love to have you follow my website... just leave your email address... it's free and I would also love to hear from you.

My book, New Beginning at Rosewood is on sale from Amazon. If you're intersted, go to Amazon to order it, or use the link below:

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

I'd love to hear what you think of the book: what characters you like best and if you also found hope while reading it or favorite parts of the book.

~Blessings, Katherine J Masters

A Christmas Book For Kids-New Release!

2021-11-03T13:49:00.007-05:00

A book for kids. Chris' Mess? No, Its' Christmas!

Chris' Mess? No, It's Christmas!

This is a fun book for kids. The setting is many years ago when times were hard. Chris is a boy who is easy to like as he makes mistakes so many times and struggles to avoid making more messes. This book shows some of those messes and also the solution to his problems.

The pages of the book have small pictures for younger children to find, adding to the fun of the book. A wonderful book to read to children and enjoy together. The book would be good for ages 2-12, although other ages could also enjoy it.

The e-book is available and now the print book is finally available as well!

Available on Amazon - just click the link.

Chris' Mess? No, It's Christmas!

This would be especially nice to read in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Enjoy the sweet story together and get a glimpse into a simpler time in history.

Enjoy Katherine's other book, which would make a wonderful Christmas gift for an adult. This book has been enjoyed by women, men and children. Order information in the link below:

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

Are You Ready For Winter?

2021-10-16T17:21:00.002-05:00

Are you feeling a bit rushed to get things done before winter arrives? I sure am. I see the beauty of the trees turning colors, the fields ready to harvest and the farmers working to get the crops in and I feel the same sense of urgency to prepare my home for a cold winter.

I still have tomatoes and peppers growing and need to harvest and preserve more of those. There are herbs to harvest and dry for winter use, plants to get ready to come inside for the winter, a duck house to build so our ducks can be all warm and snug this winter since the old duck house needs to be replaced, a wood stove to install and so much more. We are busy working on these when not working on the regular work. Your list probably looks different than mine, but maybe you are working hard also. It is a time to get ready.

The length of sunlight each day is decreasing as the season changes too, and we all tend to be up and around before daylight and some don't get home until after dark... and we still have 2 more months before the days will start to become longer again. It all adds to the sense of urgency to be ready for winter... for cold... for bad roads and more. When it is all done and ready, there will be a sense of peace that we've done what we can and we will face the winter trials thankful our preparations are complete. (I hope we get to that point, this year!) :)

We have had years where we faced ice or snow early and didn't know where our winter gloves were or the snow scraper for icy car windows on cold mornings. We've had to scramble to bring plants in for an unexpected early freeze or stay outside in cold wet rainy conditions in the dark rushing before the temperature dropped to 28 degrees to save as much produce as possible because the frost hadn't been expected. Those are stress-filled times and I hope to avoid those each year.

It reminds me that we are to be preparing for another harvest and ending also. So many are dying without Christ and others are walking on the way to a Christ-less eternity, not realizing their time could be up at any moment. We need to tell them of salvation. We have no idea when the end will come for them or for us. Are you ready? I hope so. Are you looking for opportunities to share with those who are not ready? We need to diligently work in this time of harvest. I know I feel more and more aware of it every day.

I hope you are saved and ready to meet God when your time comes and if so, what a blessing that will be! If not, there is no time like today to make sure your salvation. God made a way for us to spend eternity with Him and we do not have to die in our sins. What a blessing He sacrificed His Son for me... and for you. May we also tell others of that wonderful gift and be listening for the nudging of the Holy Spirit to talk to someone, even when we don't feel like it.

Are you enjoying the beauty of the fall scenery? Are you feeling a sense of urgency to get ready for winter? What projects are you needing to complete before winter? Are you also feeling an urgency to tell others of Christ? I would love to hear about either one or both in the comments. Thank you for joining me.

~Blessings, Katherine J Masters

If you enjoy old houses, exploring, mysteries, real life and a bit of fun, you may also enjoy my book. If you read it, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Use the link below or find it on Amazon.

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

Wonders of God's Creation

2021-06-08T07:14:00.000-05:00

I love beautiful nature scenes and I love to pair them with Scripture also.

I'm glad you stopped by and I hope you enjoyed God's Word and His beautiful creation with me. I find there is always something amazing to be found in nature. Sometimes it is a big scene and other times it is a closeup of some small part to show details usually unseen. I find myself looking for these hidden gems in nature and in God's Word.

I hope you have a good day and week and enjoy the obvious or hidden wonders around you.

~Blessings

Katherine J Masters

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

Do You Ever Feel Like This?

2021-05-27T07:47:00.000-05:00

Do you ever feel like that picture above? Empty? Still standing, but not much substance inside? A shell of who you used to be or who you wanted to be?

So many times, we can work on the outer part of our lives - those areas seen by others, our image, our reputation and more, yet forget about the substance inside, that part which makes us alive. We crumble bit by bit, not realizing how barren our lives have become as we continue to smile, have "fun", be active, go through the motions and put on a good face but a weariness, numbness and maybe even deadness grows until we are but a shell of who we wanted to be.... of who God created us to be.

Is that you today? Are you still going through the motions and looking good on the outside, while slowly dying on the inside?

What a dangerous place to be! I have been there and I have had to realize the danger and make immediate changes in order to survive, grow and thrive. What changes? First of all, I have to evaluate.. How is my walk with the Lord?

Am I reading my Bible to find the treasures God has for me... or to say I did it?

Am I spending time in prayer? Repentence? Forgiving? Obedience? Praising God?

I have learned that for me, one of the biggest issues is, Am I getting enough rest? How is my health? Have I been doing too much again? Am I trying to "do it all"? Am I forgetting to allow physical rest and healing? Fatigue can quickly empty us.

Neglecting any of these can make a person spiritually sick and decay quickly sets in. Something else happens at this point also. We become more susceptible to the lies of satan... wondering if God really cares, feeling envious of others, allowing hurts to blind us to God's blessings, hardening our hearts to the still small voice of God. We can become fearful and timid. Some become grouchy or downright angry.

Part of our evaluation should include checking our foundation... it is strong? Maybe we have learned God's Word and known Him for years and the foundation is pretty good. Repentance can allow God's work in our lives to continue and be fruitful.

Maybe the foundation is crumbling or even missing in places. If our foundation is on anything but God, it is not a good foundation. Church traditions are not a good foundation. What makes me "happy" is not a good foundation. Pleasing others is not a good foundation. "The way I've always done it." is not a good foundation. Fear of criticism, Fear of not pleasing someone, and other fears are also a bad foundation.

No matter how much you build on a weak foundation, it will always stay weak because it isn't the right foundation. Find the source of the foundation problem and then steps can be taken to fix it. The only good foundation is God's Word. Many have tried other foundations and they can look good for a while, but emptiness shows up eventually.

A willing and repentant heart submitted to God and trusting in His Word, is a good foundation. Our human nature is still there, but what a work God can do with a person willing to let God lead. He highlights weak areas and gives grace and wisdom to help us grow. The foundation grows stronger and His light is able to shine through us, even as a broken vessel.

As we give praise to Him and remember to be thankful, peace and life grows, joy grows also. God continues the growing process and we can be content, even in difficult times as we trust Him to know all things, to lead us, to give wisdom and more.

If you are feeling empty today, I hope you will check your foundation, fix it, and get back on track. God loves you and has a plan for your life... no, it won't be all "sunshine and roses", but He promises to be with us even in the trials.

My debut Christian novel is available!

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

"FEAR NOT" Is Not Enough

2021-02-06T18:40:00.003-06:00

A childhood memory...

The basement of our house was a dark and forbidding place. I hated going down in there where the walls were rough, crumbling dirt. A few old shelves stood along the back wall where canned goods, both metal cans and glass canning jars of home-canned foods, were stored. The furnace was in the middle of the basement and a single bare light bulb hung from the low ceiling-the only light for the basement. The placement of the furnace blocked the light of that dim bulb from reaching many areas of the room and the whole basement was dim and dark with many ominous corners.

The steps descending into that abyss were simple boards that created a rough set of open stairs with a small space behind the steps where the wall could be faintly seen and I always feared what my imagination thought lived back there. In one of the darkest parts of the basement was the potato bin. Dad bought potatoes by the bushel and they were stored in the potato bin, which was only a few boards formed into a squarish open box on the floor next to the wall.

As a girl, I dreaded being told to go to the basement to get a few canned goods. I timidly stepped down each step, my eyes fearfully watching for dangers... the shadows, the noise of the furnace when it started suddenly, the cobweb I walked into or was able to avoid, the spider running into the shadows and more. I was seriously "spooked" and only the obedience drilled into me kept me from running up those stairs without the job done. I would quickly grab what I had been sent to get, glad for the dim light that shone on the shelves allowing me to see what was needed.

I had disciplined myself to walk deliberately back through the darkness to the stairs and ascend calmly up, trying to ignore the rising panic I felt inside. I usually made it up two or three steps before the panic took over and I ran as fast as I could up the remaining steps, slamming the door behind me at the top, breathing hard, relieved to be back in the main part of the house. Then I would compose my face, pretend I was fine and go to continue my work, hoping no one saw my fear, although I remained very "jumpy".

Even worse than getting canned goods, though, was going down to get potatoes as it was too dark to see and I had to reach and grab as many as I needed, doing so in the dark, then carry them in my arms up the stairs. One time I grabbed a few potatoes only to feel the numerous tiny legs of a centipede scurrying rapidly up my arm. Terrified and dropping the potatoes, I immediately gave in to the panic and ran up the stairs, shudders and shivering shaking my frame, sure I could never do the job again. However, since I hadn't gotten the potatoes, I was sent back down to do it and obediently accomplished that task and learned not to complain of being scared, but the fear remained deep inside and grew.

As a girl, I had many reasons to fear. We all have reasons to be afraid even as adults, especially considering the condition of our world. Saying, "Fear not", "don't be afraid", "be a big girl" , "your fear is silly", or other such comments won't take the fear away. Neither will pretending we are not afraid. Even being able to foist fearful tasks off on other people will not take away the fear. What should we do? Are we condemned to live in fear the rest of our lives? We may have been conditioned to just hide our fear, but God has a plan to help us.

One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

Yes, it starts out, "Fear thou not..." but that phrase is not alone as it also says:

for I am with thee,

for I am thy God,

I will strengthen thee,

I will help thee,

I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

We will be faced with fear. This verse tells us that God is bigger than our fear and that He will be with us and strengthen us. It says to "fear thou not", BUT it also tells us some of the ways He will help us. We turn to God and He is our help. God doesn't just tell us not to be afraid without telling us how we can do that and we shouldn't do that to others, either. We need to direct people, especially our children, to the One who knows our fears and can do something about them. Words of "Fear Not" or "Don't be afraid" are empty without something behind them. What a blessing that God tells us not to fear AND tells us He is fully able to take care of us.

God has taught me much about trusting Him and I have learned practical ways to deal with fear. No, it doesn't mean we will never be fearful. Fear will attack, but God shows us how to deal with it. In future posts, I will be sharing some of what He has taught me. I hope you will join me. Feel free to share your comments about fear and how God is helping you or what you need to overcome.

~ Blessings, Katherine J Masters

Order at the link below:

New Beginning at Rosewood:

Finding Hope While Exploring An Old House

Short Fiction Story - The Party Was Going Fine Until... & Sneak Peek of New Children's Book

2020-11-14T12:18:00.001-06:00

The party was going fine until a misunderstanding occurred. Several friends and their families had been invited to a casual party at our home in the country. Our home needed work and it had been tempting to wait to invite company until all work was complete, but the money situation we faced would only allow minimal and necessary repairs to be done and we wanted to invite people over sooner than when the repairs were done. Many were church friends and we had also invited some neighbors we didn’t know well, making it quite a mixed group. The party was being held outside since the weather was nice in late summer and all were relaxing and having fun – good, clean fun.

Volleyball was being played by several, some were sitting at the bonfire, and there were various activities going on with much laughter. Our party ideas didn’t include paying for grand activities and we hoped all would enjoy the simple games we set out and it seemed to be happening, to my great relief. I rushed to get the last of the food on the outdoor table where the picnic food was being placed for the potluck dinner. Other tables and chairs were set up, but some people would have to stand or sit on a blanket on the ground and thankfully, no one seemed to mind.

When the meal was ready, we called everyone over to the table area where they quieted down so my husband could pray and thank God for the food. After the prayer, I gave quick instructions about the food line and where the beverages were, so the line formed while people filled their plates with the appetizing food. We were thankful to have so many wonderful people around us and treasured these new friends.

Being rather new to the area, we had gradually made a few friends and this was our first real party, so I had been a bit nervous, wanting people to like us and wanting all to go well. I had to admit, the party was a success and I allowed myself to enjoy the relief of that.

Times had been tough in the last couple of years since my husband had lost his job and changed to a job which paid less. We had been selling what we could from the house, to help make ends meet and I posted things online, and then acted as dispatcher when someone called and wanted an item, meaning I set up the time one of the family members could meet them at a nearby gas station to sell whatever was being sold or I would meet them myself. We had already sold several things and as bills continued, I had to dig deeper to sell things I hadn’t wanted to sell, but we really needed the money, so I was trusting God to provide for us in this way and He was.

I was frugal, by nature, but even I couldn’t stretch the money as far as it needed to stretch, though I had expanded my frugal habits. I had been actively gardening and harvesting wild foods, which most people call weeds, and had been surprised at the number of new foods I had found… foods that were edible and nutritious and free. My new harvests had included purslane, dandelions, violets and redbud flowers in our salads. I found that pine needles have a good amount of vitamin C, so I made tea with those and many more foods were found. My interest in herbs and natural health was a bonus in helping me to research all of this. I had made regular foods for the picnic, though, and wasn’t trying any of my new ideas on friends.

So far, we had sold an unused seed spreader, an extra grill and more of those types of items. I had pared down my kitchen bowls and pans and sold many of those, as well as a couple of chairs I had never liked and a cabinet I would miss. The beautiful rose china set from my grandmother had been difficult to part with, but the money it brought helped to pay the electric bill, buy shoes for one of our sons and buy groceries for this party. I was thankful and still felt so blessed by God. Our family was close and we were together and learning to trust God more and more.

At the moment, I had about three dozen items posted online for sale and when someone wanted to meet, we tried to make it happen as soon as possible in order to not lose a sale. When I received an email from someone, I sent them meeting information and a contact number which was usually my husband’s unless he was at work. A couple of our sons were also able to meet and sell items, which helped a lot, but coordinating selling times with family work schedules had proved to be challenging. We were making it work, but I would be glad when it was no longer necessary, if that day ever came.

A question from my daughter nudged me from my thoughts and I turned my attention to her as she said my husband was trying to get my attention, so I looked to where he stood on the other side of the table. I was delighted the party was going so well, but surprised he was on his cell phone. He covered the mouthpiece to ask me “Honey, where is the pot? I need the pot!” He was in a frantic hurry because a sale needed to be made and the people were almost to the gas station meeting place, but couldn’t wait long.

I wished people would give us more warning, but we had experienced this before and I knew we could do it. I raised my voice and called to my son, who was a few yards away. “Dad needs the pot so he can go sell it. Hurry and get it, please.” The son rushed to do my bidding, while my husband finished his conversation, ready to grab the pot and go sell it. Only then, did I realize the laughter had ceased and people looked concerned. There was some whispering, but the conversations had quieted to an uncomfortable level. As hostess, I knew I need to fix whatever the problem was, but I wasn’t sure what was going on.

One woman cautiously asked, “You’re selling something like that?” I replied that we were selling many things because we really needed the money more than the items. We really liked the pot, but could do without it and needed the money it would bring. She looked surprised and her frown indicated disapproval. I looked around, surprised at the continued quiet and serious-looking faces. Our party was going so well until then and I wondered WHAT had happened. I felt panic rise inside, but needed to play it cool since I was the hostess, though I felt like crying. I wondered if they disapproved of my husband leaving the party and hoped he would be quick to return.

Just then, our son came out of the house with the large glazed ceramic pot and saucer my husband needed to take to sell. He grabbed it from our son and rushed to the vehicle to go meet the people. I was glad we would get the money from the pot as it would be a help. Hearing more conversation again, I turned back to the people and though relieved, I still didn’t know what had happened.

Seeing some smiles and smirks, I was confused until the same woman who had questioned me earlier, asked, “Was that the POT you were selling?” When I said yes, chuckles started and then outright laughter and I finally put it all together.

“You mean, you thought we were selling pot, like marijuana?” When she nodded and laughter continued, I sputtered, “We wouldn’t even consider doing that.” I was horrified. “Oh, my, I’m so sorry. I guess I need to be more careful of how I say things in the future.” Thankfully, the party got back on track and finished well and the pot sold. One man congratulated me on having such a fun party and laughed about pot, while I cringed, and gave a polite little smile.

Katherine J Masters 11-14-2020

This story grew out of a situation that really happened when neighbors were at our house and we sold a pot... a plant pot! Thank you for visiting. ~Blessings, Katherine J Masters

Want to read more from Katherine J Masters? New Beginning at Rosewood is available online in print or ebook version. Order HERE

Also, here is a sneak peek at my new book coming out soon. It is a children's picture book with the story of a sad little poor boy who is clumsy and makes a lot of messes. Read about how he learns the real meaning of Christmas and becomes happier.

We hope to have the book available for purchase on Amazon in early December. Keep watching on this website (be sure to sign up to get the posts by email) or check Amazon link

New Beginning at Rosewood by Katherine J Masters

2020-11-12T10:44:00.002-06:00

Sometimes, life can be unfair and problems seem overwhelming. Difficulty, loss and sadness have discouraged Emily. Settling the affairs of a reclusive old uncle in a distant town gives her a chance to get away for a time. Determined to complete her unpleasant responsibility, she faces trials as well as blessings along the way.

She has always loved touring old houses, and finding a forgotten one becomes a source of joy and hope as her heart starts to heal. Her inner strength grows as she uncovers stories about people from the past and her life is influenced by the lessons she finds there. New friendships are built and an old one is restored.

Quirky characters in the town become friends not only to Emily but to the reader, as well, as the lives of these fun and sincere people intertwine with Emily's life. The light suspense and mystery of the old house draws the reader to discover its history and uncover its secrets.

This is a story of redemption and hope as Emily's heart begins to heal and she begins to see the "happily-ever-after" she had given up on can possibly be hers in this unexpected place at just the right time.

Order Here

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

Remembering Grandma's House

2020-10-23T08:14:00.002-05:00

An old house, abandoned and alone in a big field, reminded me of my Grandma's House which was actually just a broken down old farmhouse where Grandma still lived years after Grandpa had died. It was a place of adventure and at times, a place of "magic" to me as a young girl, and to my siblings. Grandma's house was in the country on acres of land and we lived in a small farming town, so the country was a treasured novelty we only experienced rarely. Exciting things (at least for children) always happened at Grandma's.

We played hard each day there and, at bedtime, went timidly to the steep stairs behind the closed door, which led up to the bedrooms we would sleep in. The adults stayed up to talk, so we had to feel around in the dark, for the string tied to the railing at the bottom of the stairs that was hooked to the single lightbulb at the top of the stairs. Pulling that string turned on the bulb which only gave a little light, but it was Grandma's House, which made that part of the adventure.

We climbed into bed under what seemed like piles of blankets and quilts and the weight of them made us feel unable to move and we quickly went to sleep. We woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon, knowing the adults were up and the adventure was beginning again. The first stop was the small square window in the hallway which looked out over the grass behind the house. It was a window that had no screen and was hinged so we could lean out and look for deer. It was a special good morning to us, and it only happened at Grandma's.

Grandma's House was the place where Mom's stories of waking up to snow on the floor and bedding in the winter, brought awe to us as we were sleeping in the same room she slept in as a kid... it was the same bare splintery wood floor we walked on in the bedrooms, many years later. The rooms were unheated and cold in winter and we were disappointed not to see snow inside, but the walls had been mostly covered with newspaper, by then, to keep the snow out. The wind still blew through easily and when it was time to get up, we grabbed our clothes and ran down to dress near the coal oil heater in the kitchen.

Some special mornings we would leave just before dawn, when Dad took us to look for herds of deer or elk. We counted them and checked other areas for more herds. We saw many and it was part of the adventure and we came home to breakfast at Grandma's house. Breakfast usually consisted of bacon, eggs fried in bacon grease, potatoes fried in bacon grease, toast with jelly and a small glass of juice.

During the day, we would play in the huge old lilac bush that had become our fort or sit in the old banana apple tree in the orchard to see the surrounding area. We explored the old barn, hunted for deer beds in the grassy fields, hiked to Sand Hill or played hide-and-seek in the old cow pasture with grass so high we couldn't be seen by siblings or cousins. It was delightful. We took hikes down the lane to the woods where we bravely explored, knowing bears had been spotted only a few miles away and we diligently hunted for bear by following tracks through many acres.... tracks we later learned were from a big dog, but we thought they still could be bear tracks.

On our long treks, we spent hours walking through fields and woods, not realizing we were on neighbor's property, but then found out neighbors didn't care and we were safe to explore. It was certainly a different time. There was a sense of magic to the time there and when it was time to leave and we headed back home to live in our town many hours away, we always took stories of what had happened at Grandma's house and we dreamed of what the next trip would hold.

I think that may be where I learned to love old houses and wonder about their stories and the people who lived there. I have told my kids many stories of Grandma's House and they loved them. Do you have memories of a special old house? I would love to hear about it in the comments. My grandma's house is gone now, except in the stories I tell my kids and in a few old pictures, but it will always hold a special place in my heart.

My debut book, New Beginning at Rosewood, is not about Grandma's house, but it does have an old house to explore and lessons to learn with Emily, the main character. It is a fiction feel-good, inspirational book, packed with bits of wisdom, some humor and mystery, set in modern day, while looking into the history of the house. A great cast of characters interact and lead to hope even in difficulty. Details below on ordering the book.

~Blessings,

Katherine J Masters

Available now on Amazon

Click on the link to go to the site...

New Beginning at Rosewood:

Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

by Katherine J Masters

Beautiful Leaves of Fall

2020-10-03T16:51:00.000-05:00

Fall is beautiful here in the midwestern US, with vibrant leaf colors and cooler temperatures. I am reminded that God is such an amazing creator that He even made the discards of the trees a thing of beauty. How wonderful to see the sun shining on, and through, the leaves on the trees and again as they become a carpet under the tree. Yes, winter is coming and it tends to be a bit long and dreary, though it does have its own beauty. How nice to have this brief time of riotous color flame to life, before the leaves dry up and break down to soil.

"I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Psalm 34:1

Blessings,

~ Katherine J Masters

New Beginning at Rosewood: Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House, is now available for purchase from Amazon.

Purchase the book here:

New Beginning at Rosewood

Do You Need Encouragement?

2020-09-06T15:01:00.002-05:00

Do You Need Encouragement?

We all like to be encouraged and sometimes we desperately need encouragement.

Maybe you live in an atmosphere of discouragement and criticism and you long for encouragement. Maybe you try so hard to do things that would finally bring a compliment, or at least no criticism, but it doesn’t happen. Life can certainly be like that. Some people seem driven to cut others down and it’s sad, isn’t it?

Have you ever felt like you were starving for encouragement? Have you spent much time in God’s Word and soaked up His assurances and words of encouragement, determined to honor Him and been so thankful for His love and care? What a God we serve! Does it seem that no matter what you do, some person finds fault and criticizes? Life has a way of beating a person down and we need to stay tuned in to God’s Word daily for sustenance.

Many years ago, I checked out groceries at the grocery store. The cashier handed me my change, looked at me with a smile and said, “Thank you. I hope you have a great rest of the day!” I cried most of the way to my vehicle because it was the nicest thing anyone had said to me that day and I was starving for encouragement or even just a kind word. What a blessing that person was. That person didn’t know I had several small children at home and one of them had severe medical problems which required hours of my time each day, or that money was so tight we didn’t know what to do and that I was exhausted every day from the work load. He didn’t know I was trying to figure out what I could quickly cook for supper so I could get kids to bed and try to sleep more or that my husband was out of work and grouchy or any of the other problems and discouragements I was facing. He just handed me a small bit of kindness and oh, how it was needed. God used that person to encourage me, just a little, and it made an impression on me. I don't remember the person at all, but I do remember the encouragement.

Encouragement is powerful and I want to encourage others, including strangers, so I look for opportunities. We don’t know what people around us are going through and we may not see their pain, but God does and He can prompt us to care and to share a kind word, if we are walking with Him.

Have you ever been encouraged by a stranger? I would love to hear about it. Feel free to leave a comment below. Also, there is a Subscribe button at the top of the page which will allow you to receive new posts in your email inbox. It's free to sign up!

I hope you know Jesus as your personal Savior and are trusting Him for your eternal salvation.

Blessings,

Katherine J Masters

Link to order the book:

NEW BEGINNING at ROSEWOOD

New Beginning at Rosewood is LIVE!

2020-09-05T08:29:00.003-05:00

Buy on Amazon

The print book is live and the ebook will be up within a few days.

First Glimpse of the Book Cover Design!

2020-08-24T19:14:00.000-05:00

First glimpse of the cover of the book by Katherine J Masters.

The book is currently in the publishing process and we hope to have it for sale by the first part of September! Just waiting for a proof copy and if all is okay, we will authorize publishing! Exciting times.

Here is the back cover with the blurb.

I will post the information of when the book will actually be for sale. The early reviews from readers has been positive and they have asked for more.

Thank you for visiting.

NEW Christian Fiction book coming SOON!

2020-07-07T22:04:00.006-05:00

A woman sad and disillusioned........

An unexpected inheritance in a town far away......

Exploration of a mysterious old house......

NEW BEGINNING at ROSEWOOD:

Finding Hope While Exploring an Old House

by Katherine J Masters

New Christian Fiction book.... coming SOON!

Subscribe for updates: KatherineJMasters.com

Katherine J Masters

Throw Out the Old???

Weeding the Useless to Nourish the Good

An Old-Fashioned Christmas Tale

WHAT Is "Thankful Stew"???

A Christmas Book For Kids-New Release!

Are You Ready For Winter?

Wonders of God's Creation

Do You Ever Feel Like This?

WHEN Fear Comes

"FEAR NOT" Is Not Enough

Short Fiction Story - The Party Was Going Fine Until... & Sneak Peek of New Children's Book

New Beginning at Rosewood by Katherine J Masters

Remembering Grandma's House

Beautiful Leaves of Fall

Do You Need Encouragement?

New Beginning at Rosewood is LIVE!

First Glimpse of the Book Cover Design!

NEW Christian Fiction book coming SOON!