to crochet, to read, to yarnalong

I took on a crocheting project during the long evenings of winter. Charlotte desired an afghan to put at the foot of her bed to cover herself, for the times when she might be on her bed reading and needed a cozy covering.

A soft acrylic yarn was used to crochet 6x6 inch squares. Five colors were randomly double-crocheted in strips of seven rows joined to five rows. You certainly could crochet any amount of rows, this simply was the size I determined for Charlotte's afghan. I must admit the most undesirable thing about this project was the joining of the squares. I made up my own manner of crocheting them together, which created a distinction between the right side and a wrong side, desiring a definite flattened right side for this afghan. Then a picot trim was added because the addition of picot trim always seems to enhance the beauty of any project.

And speaking of beauty,

 I am reading another book by Leslie Ludy. I have appreciated her heart in appealing to young woman to seek Jesus above all else. She gives parts of her own life story as well as real-life situations of other young women she has met. Leslie handles the Scriptures well as she gives practical actions in order for a  life to be changed, renewed, and shaped into a "set-apart woman".  I would recommend this book to a high school girl and up, but I would be quick to suggest that you read the book first since some of the content would benefit being discussed between parent and young person.

Linking up with Ginny for her weekly yarnalong. Come and join us!

...she went to a garden party

Actually, it was a tea party. An invitation arrived via post, the mail that is, inviting me to a tea party, a Derby Hat Tea Party. My first response was, "I don't own a hat for such an occasion!"

But little did I realize that I was on to one of the most enchanting and engaging pursuits. I discovered several consignments shops all under one roof in town with a plenteous supply of vintage hats. The fun was just beginning. I entered my own little world that morning. A woman who was by herself, a woman trying on hat after hat, a woman laughing aloud and talking to herself.

Several hours late, I walked out of the store carrying a bag bulging with five vintage hats.

This is the hat I chose to wear to the Tea Party.

 With the vintage white gloves, absolutely!

Serena

GretchenJoanna left a comment on my last post. She probably just whisked it out there along with her sweet message with nary of thought about it. But her comment tickled me all under. Let me tell you why. In March I was reading through one of my old journals dating back to a little over a year ago. I noted a particular random scribbling, "I will have a female cat one day and name her Serena, to remind me of calmness- and peace." In April we brought home a ten month old cat, and I named her Serena. She sleeps with me and loves me with her irresistible felineness, I am serene. Then she jumps, and runs, and skids, and scratches the furniture, and eats all the beautiful blooms off my plants...I  shout, "S-e-r-e-n-a!" The idea was to breath deeply and be calm and serene.  Real life situations just aren't that easy. But it is a good plan.

  

Living up to her name

a window opened

When did the days get so full that even an itty bitty post was out of my reach? I desire to scale new heights on most days, but truthfully, sometimes it seems I must just go with the flow and keep up as best I can.

 Simply stated, here is a window of a number of happenings in my life in photos from the past few months. Hopefully, it is not too plethoric! 

If you need explanations for any photo, please scroll through these words, I attempted to be brief.

*Quiet mornings gathered around the kitchen table reading the Word.* Waking one morning in March to discover ice covering everything, including my blooming daffodils. Before noon, cracks and booms as trees and limbs fell one after the other. We would gasp and run to see. All of my Leyland Cypress trees fell, kaboom, but only one landed on the house, thankfully, with little damage. *Rooting little bits of rosemary and aloe vera. I do love rooting things! *A new family member whom George adores. *A luncheon hosted one Saturday morning with Erin Davis and several special young ladies. * "A" is for Alan, and Charlotte made a special biscuit for his birthday breakfast, which we all enjoyed with huckleberry jam, strawberries, and bananas with the light of the gleaming sun's rays making us even more joyful. *The  sewing and stuffing of bags that were traveling to Haiti. Rose was able to go and is already planning her next mission trip out of the country. *He was here with us for almost two months, but school starts back in Thailand soon, we found ourselves at the airport, dropping Alan off once again. They come and they go! We never stop praying for them. *Back to dining outside, and it is pleasing for me to see the sun beams across the tablecloth that was left out, along with one lone napkin and glass. *My most favorite first daughter turned eighteen *And there we are, the girls, on Mother's Day. 

Easter Celebration

No celebratory holiday is anticipated like Easter when we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, 

who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,

purge your conscience form dead works to serve the living God?

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death,

             for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,

they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. "

                                                                                                           Hebrews 9: 14-15

the power of the cross

 It was a glorious, bright morning, and I looked up.

This is what my eyes beheld. The reflection of the grids from the side windows created the most palpable crosses which drew me to silence and meditation.

 Jesus entered Jerusalem intentionally, fully aware of what awaited him there, the betrayal, the revilement, the horrendous physical torture, and the ultimate forsaking of the Father. It was the way He willingly chose, the way of obedience and suffering, the way to the cross.

And only through the cross of Jesus is there resurrection, and life, and victory.

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses...
God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.
 This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."
  Colossians 2:13

living with the ghost of Putter

There are several kernels of popcorn laying on my den's floor, the room in which we watch movies and eat popcorn. That popcorn would have been snatched up and never for even a minute had a chance if Mr. Putter was  around.

I never expected to miss him so much. Sometimes I hear him in my mind coming down the stairs, his nails tapping on the hardwood floor. It's sad. Some things I will never miss about Mr. Putter, but those things that I do miss hurt deeply at times. But most of all I hurt for my daughter, who had a magnanimous love for him.

His memory lives on.

daybook

Outside my window... sleet falling, making me feel as if I am in a pinball machine

I am thinking...about the Amazon order of Lenten books I placed recently, waiting

I am thankful...we were able to bundle up and take a walk outside earlier

I am baking...wheat bread, the smell of freshly baked bread is wonderfully delicious!

I am learning...the spiritual as well as physical disciplines of fasting

In the kitchen...lentil soup, served with a sprinkle of rosemary salt and a dash of balsamic vinegar

I am creating...a scrapbook of Rose's life, almost eighteen years of living memories

I am reading...Bread and Wine (Readings for Lent and Easter), and A Different Sun by Elaine Neil Orr

I am hoping...to be able to sow my lettuce seeds soon

I am crocheting...an afghan in sherbet colors for Charlotte's bed

I am embroidering...a tea cozy, involving some appliqueing...fun!

Around the house...a lick and a promise, and the refrigerator needs cleaning

This afternoon...a pot of tea, reading a Sower series book of Issac Newton's life, and a game of Guess Who.

Quote:
"It is in the laboratory of life that our initial consecration to Christ is tested, proven, and demonstrated in daily, moment-by-moment choices and responses, as we surrender to the sovereignty and will of God."

~Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Surrender

I have seen this idea of a daybook for several years, today seemed like a good day to post in like manner. 

he is home!

We are all safely gathered in now.

 We left early with a backdrop of midnight blue skies surrounded by huge transfer trucks traveling the icy roads with us as we headed to the airport.

                                                                       April 2013
He left on a warm day in late April. I still remember the tug in my heart as I watched him walk down the airport stairs to embark upon a journey that would take him thousands of miles away for many months.

                                                                      March 2014

His only request was that we not feed him rice for a while.

more birds and a poem

A winter poem echoing simplicity, since winter desires to linger and hold on tight.

                                              Bread and milk for Breakfast,
                                              A woolen frock to wear,
                                              And a crumb for robin redbreast
                                              on the cold days of the year.

~Christina G. Rossetti

The faithful and stout robin redbreast is the bird in our area that reappears in late January to remind us spring is just around the corner. Charlotte looked outside this afternoon and exclaimed,

"Oh, my goodness, look at all the robins!" Our yard was dotted with about one-half dozen or more. So even though spring might seem very distant with today's cold, it is on its way.

feathered friends

 Right outside my doorway are friends, of the feathered kind. They show up punctually every morning, and feed throughout the day, never letting me down with their sterling essence. Remaining faithful to making sure the feeders are adequately stocked is my part, the birds' part is to be just what they are...feathered friends spilling pleasure.

A little hard-backed journal book to record, binoculars to closely observe, a Peterson's Field guide to identify, and colored pencils to draw our friends in detail.

And yes, there is plenty of competition with the squirrels too, there is probably no reason necessary to convince anyone that they get their share of the birdseed.