Good morning

I put the latest quilt top on the frame this morning and after coffee (!) I'm stitching away.

Re: UFOs: UnFinished Objects

Therapy no longer needed.  I lasted 5 days.

Here are my new projects, started about midnight last night.  How many free patterns have you downloaded and never used?  I decided to use this one, Garden Gate Plaids, from Andover Fabrics.  (Click on the tab called "download" to find the pattern.) I ordered the green background a few minutes ago, and all the rest are in my stash. I started cutting fabric for the blocks last night.






I'm amazed, simply amazed how quilting 'feels'.  What a great way to relax and let the cares of the day fall away.  I resolve to never go through life without UFOs.

UFOs: UnFinished Objects

I don't make a good retired person.  You know the feeling you have after handing out the chocolate cake, only to realize that was the last piece and you didn't get one?  Or the dream where you're walking down the aisle at church, with no clothes on?  There's something seriously wrong at my house and I finally found out what is causing this unsettled feeling....

All my UFOs are done.

I'm seriously in need of therapy.

I finished my last UFO 5 days ago:








The photo above shows the detail in the outer border.  It's a large throw size quilt I made for my Aunt Louise. I chose this fabric because of the childrens book illustrations from the 1950s.  She is a wonderful mom, and does so much for her family.


I MUST CUT FABRIC BEFORE I GO NUTS!

Zucchini

Like everyone else who has a garden, my zucchini is overwhelming the garden!  I love this time of year.  I tried something new tonight, grilled zucchini added to our paninis.


Young child who shall remain nameless says (que the tune "Nobody knows the suffering I've seen, nobody knows my sorrow") MOOO-ooooOOOM! There's vegetables in here!!!!


Sourdough is on the left, and an italian brioche is on the cutting board. Yellow and green zucchini from my garden, ham, turkey and the cheeses are either smoked cheddar, swiss or asiago or have all 3! Who wants to come for dinner tomorrow night?

One of my BFFs used zucchini instead of apples in a pie tonight.  What a great idea Cindy!

If I disappear...

Dear reader, Many of you will think my topic today is completely nuts.  But read through to the end, it will make sense eventually.

I began studying Daniel and Revelations in college back in the mid-80s. I'm not a preacher or a prophet by any means and I don't make prophecies. But after watching events unfold over the last 6 years, there is clear evidence that God knew what He was talking about when He wrote warnings over 1000 years ago.  Let me share some evidence?

What is the Hebrew word for violence? .... It is "Kha-mase". The K and the e are silent... say the word again without these two letters.

Written a millenium ago, here it is, in Genesis 6 "11 Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence (Kha-mase). 12 God looked on the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth. 13 Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence (Kha-mase) because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth." Reader, the Lord used the word Hamas.  It is no coincidence that the group attacking God's people in Israel are called Hamas.  But did you know Hamas is here in America?  Keep reading...

We've all heard the story of Noah and the arc... but did you know the bible describes the return of Jesus to be as in the days of Noah? (Luke 17:26)  Hebrews 11:7 says "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family."   Dear reader, know that the warnings of His return were given to us centuries ago.  Please listen and continue reading, with faith?  God will never deceive you, He longs to give you hope and a future!

Jesus is coming back! There are warnings in the bible.  God gave us signs to watch.  Just like in the days of Noah. Please, please ask Him to be your Savior while there's still time. After I disappear, along with millions more, you will still be able to ask Him. But you will still be here to live through the destruction that comes. Hamas is everywhere in America.  People from Hamas were photographed in Ferguson, Missouri just this week.  Did you know seven muslims control the White House? And more muslims poured into America after one of them threw the borders wide open.

For someone just starting to read the bible, I know, it is difficult to understand.  Jump in somewhere and start reading, it doesn't matter where.  Eventually, you'll come to a paragraph that sounds familiar, like you've read that somewhere else.  So you go back to where you saw it before and compare that paragraph with the paragraph you just read.  This is how God talks to you.  Eventually it makes sense, like an idea dawning on you, only when it starts making sense know that is the Lord talking to you.  "Those who seek me find me." Proverbs 8:17  "If you need wisdom, ask our God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking." James 1:5

Accepting Jesus as your Savior is FREE! And He is a gentleman! He will never force himself on you, he waits. He longs to shower you with blessings, but he waits for your invitation. Please don't put off this decision?

Doorbell ringer

WARNING!  If someone comes to your door telling you they are from the government and they're checking to see how bad the ticks are in your area, and then tell you to take off your clothes and dance around so they can check for ticks.... DON'T DO IT!!! This is a scam! They just want to see you naked! I wish someone had told me this yesterday, I feel so stupid.

Michael Brown

Shine Jesus Shine

Ode to the Sewing Machine #21

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist,  ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!

Formerly stored in that 5 gallon bucket?

May she rest in peace

Ode to the Sowing Machine #20

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist, ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!

I think they may have inhaled a few of those chemicals.

  

God Bless America!

Your thoughts?

“The America Republic will endure until
the day Congress discovers that it can bribe
the public with the public’s money.”
 — Alexis de Tocqueville, 1831

Have no doubt

I studied at Faith Baptist Bible College in the 80's. During my first year, a brilliant man named David Powell was one of my instructors. His class on Old Testament Theory was, by far, my favorite class. He taught in a way that made you think outside the box, to dig deep for the answer. I loved his class. After each test, I found myself striving to get a better grade than the one before.

In 1985, I was 25 years old. 7 years earlier, I almost flunked out of high school. I received a 1.42 out of a possible 4.0 grade average. While enrolled at FBBC, I worked 50 hours a week, drove an hour each day to classes, and studied when I could. I worked full-time as the owner of a small business with 5 employees. I also worked part-time as the manager of a 64 unit residential facility. I could only attend FBBC part-time, it was all I could afford at the time.

In David Powell's freshman class, as we studied each book in the Old Testament, one of his assignments was to create a graph of the book. We were to break the book down into events and chart each one as it progressed to the next event. In the evenings, I dove into each graph with gusto. I learned things about the Old Testament I'd never thought of before. I started out the class getting a B, or 80%, but by the end of the semester I received 100%+ on my graphs and tests.

In the middle of the semester, mummering started on campus. At first, I tried to ignore the whispers that reached my ears, as I studied in the campus lounge above the cafeteria. But the whispers became bolder as time went on. Freshman who were in the class with me began to grumble about how hard the class was, Powell was a bad teacher, he did this and he did that...mur-mur-mur-mur. And I began to wonder why am I doing so well if he is such a bad teacher?

Once, I nearly stood up in class to ask them what was going on. Mr. Powell was late to class that morning and the little rebel inside me wanted to ask why someone who nearly flunked out of high school 7 years earlier and worked 50 hours a week was getting A's and they weren't? I chose to remain silent. Instead, I chose to make my sentiments known in Dr. Houghton's presence. 3 decades later I still regret my decision.

As each decade has passed, I've often thought of my time at FBBC. I love my school and pray for the students and teachers to this day. Dr. Walton and Dr. Shipp changed my life through their kind and loving example. They loved us, truly loved each student. It was an honor and privilege to attend FBBC and I look back at my time there with fondness. Today, I look forward to reading the alumni newsletter and always look for people I knew in the pages.

But I'll never forget how gossip took away a brilliant teacher. A few students wanted mediocrity. They wanted an easy road and they received it. He was let go at the end of the semester. He was replaced by someone, I don't remember who they hired. Through the power of gossip, a truly great teacher was sent away.

Gossip destroys. It should be hated by more than just One Person.

Poetic justice!

I was following this $70,000 SUV this morning and thought I'd take a pic.

The message on the back window is a little blurred. The acronym is G.R.E.A.T. which stands for
Gang Resistance Education And Training. It's a $70,000 SUV with tricked out wheels
(not seen in this shot), the kind pimps and drug dealers buy,
bright chrome wheels that keep spinning while you sit in traffic.

A remarkable family

"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:4 (NIV)

Pass the remarkable stories of the Ten Boom family to others. 

Please visit   http://tenboom.org  for more information. Thank you!

What a beauty!

I found this on craigslist, located in Kansas City. A very rare 1889 Willcox and Gibbs Treadle.

I so want this machine!! Alas, it's a 2 day drive.

Ode to the Sewing Machine #19

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist, ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!

Better run right over there!

A productive day

Today was so beautiful in NC I decided to make a trellis for my climbing hydrangea.  I gathered dead limbs and built this.  It was finished in 2 hours.  If you can ignore the empty pots, ladder and the black garden trailer behind the trellis, please?  (sheepish grin)  I chose a climbing hydrangea because it's a flowering vine that can take some shade.  It will have lace cap flowers eventually.  I used 12' steel rebar for the bones of the trellis and then attached dead limbs.

What are you adding to your landscape this Spring?  I tend to add or change something around every year.  I had a rose garden in the back for 5 years, but this year I moved all the roses to the front yard, and placed a crepe myrtle in their place.




This is what it will look like in about 10 years.  Climbing hydrangea is a slow growing vine. (click the photo to see a larger view)  By the time it gets this big, I'll have built a larger, stronger trellis.

Proverbs31.org

The news reports have been discouraging lately, at least here in the U.S.  The gay kiss in the NFL is all over the news, meanwhile another NFL player who earned a Bronze Star for incredible bravery isn't mentioned. Alejandro Villanueva, a former U.S. Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan, was selected in an NFL draft this week.



I thought I'd share my favorite online spot for devotional reading.  This site is run by several ladies who live in NC, and I'm amazed how some days it seems they post a devotional written especially for me.  Yesterdays was a good one! Click the button on the left to read it.  When the news is discouraging I remind myself that God is still on the throne and His eye is watching over me.

Tornados

The following post was written 2 weeks ago:
A tornado passed by my house yesterday morning, I'm thankful it didn't touch down.  It went right through downtown!

2 days later   

1976

Tornados make me nervous.  I grew up in Iowa and have seen my share.  The last one was an F5 that removed my town from the map.  You can see that one in the photo on the right. (click to see a larger view) You see a white satellite tornado to the left, circling the main funnel.  There were 32 small tornadoes that dropped down as the monster moved across my county.


Now today's post:

May 16, 2014

Oh. My. Gosh.  Another tornado passed by, and the path was nearly identical to the one that was here 2 weeks ago.  What are the odds???  Yesterday's tornado touched down this time.

Fortunately the damage was light.  A few houses had trees fall on them, cars were totalled but there were no injuries.


Both times the path went through a major ivy league university (I.e.: ultra liberal).  Is God trying to get someone's attention?

For cat lovers everywhere

Ode to the Sewing Machine #18

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist, ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!

Time to rest

Isn't this a great bible verse?

Sticky floors = Happy kids

My son's 13th birthday party is finished. The carpet has been cleaned of the spilled pop and ice cream. Popcorn under every piece of furniture is going to stay there a little longer because I'm going to bed!

Can I trade a teenager with anyone? Low mileage. Takes showers if faced with no Xbox time (hasn't discovered girls). Great computer skills! Loves video games. Prays for his mom! Prays for his mom... well, maybe I'll keep him around another year or two? 

1st birthday

10th birthday - selfie video

Ode to Sewing Machines #17

Many of you follow my "Ode to the Sewing Machine" posts.  We've all seen the ads on craigslist, ebay and elsewhere.  The clueless sellers give those of us who sew a belly laugh, or two!

(click to see larger photos)

It's amazing the lengths people will not go to get a good picture, isn't it?

Ah thank ya need a shovel to find it but I don't know.

New York?  New Hampshire?  New Jersey?  maybe it was New Guinea?

Again... it's amazing the lengths people will not go to get a good picture, isn't it?  Ewwww!
And I thought the one in #16 was bad?

Do you need to trade?

One of my blog posts seemed to resonate with my readers.  A friend of mine, Glory, wrote part of this one, I simply rearranged her thoughts a little.

What we say affects us and everyone around us, either negatively or positively.  The way we talk can change the atmosphere in a room. You can enter a place right after there has been an argument and feel the oppression in the atmosphere. But when you enter a place where there is joy and laughter it lifts you up.

• Proverbs 18:20 Death and life are in the power of the tongue
• Proverbs 21:23 Who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
• Psalm 34:12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
• Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
• Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
• Psalm 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
• Matt 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

That can sure cut down on our talking! Choose the words you speak wisely. Watch what you sow into your life, the things we are putting into our minds. Sooner or later that’s what we will produce. So if we don’t like what we are reaping, we can choose how to think and what to say. We will give account for every idle word we speak. Idle words are not productive.

• Prov. 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
•  Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption
• James 3:5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

No person can tame their tongue, but it can be tamed by making the choice to let the Spirit of God have control.

• Psalm 39:1  I said, I will take care of my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
• Colossians 4:6  Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.
• Psalm 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Amen!

Carrot Cake in a Mug

Ok, so I ignored the tofu and used regular ol' cream cheese.  Really, they make tofu cream cheese? Blee-eck!