Good Stuff

~ Dave and Sandra Karen, not Sandra Kay ~

Lately, I've been remiss about blogging in a timely fashion. Sorrreeee. Life has just gotten its teeth in me and I feel as shaken as a stuffed animal after Sam P. Spade has finished chewing on it. Maybe that cold had something to do with it. Or, perhaps the upper respiratory infection followed by antibiotics; meds always make me feel wiped out and then it takes a while to put myself back together again.

In the above photo, my two BFF's are having a grand time on our recent Low Country boat trip. We departed Georgetown and went with Cap'n Rod and Fran, his wife, for Shell Island where we found a boat load, no pun intended, of shells. I'll show you soon. 

So, some good things to make one feel happy with a sense of well being.

Did you ever read the book Wicked or see the play? I've still not finished reading the book but, in a word, the play is fabulous and made me think...re-think...about nature/nurture and how both effect/affect us. The Good Witch, Glenda, nearly always introduces herself in a breathy voice, "OH, it's Ga-Linda...with a G!" I always think of "Ga-Linda, with a G" when I think of Glenda's blog gg-notes on the journey. On October 1, Glenda began posting 31 Days of Christmas Wonder and it's been a treat. No, it's not too early to begin thinking about Christmas and how to make it more wonderful, magical, mystical, enjoyable, peaceful, relaxing, calming, loving, memorable. Please, make it part of your day to visit with Glenda and prepare your heart, home and family for Christ and Christmas.

Amy, A Farmish Kind of Life, has a receipt for Pumpkin Buckle that looks pretty darned spectacular! I can't wait to try it out; anything with pumpkin has got to be good, imho -smile-.

Mr. Fish serves no spam, never fear! Mr. Fish is our new favorite seafood restaurant; they serve the best fried green tomatoes with shrimp I've ever tasted! However,  Nibils serves the best she crab soup we've ever tasted. Now, you do realize when I say "ever tasted" that, of course, means outside the Thistle Cove Farm kitchen?! -smile-

Are you a writer? Yes, of course you're a writer; you have a blog, don't you? Women of Faith is having their annual writer's contest; check it out.

Colorado Lady is hosting Secret Santa for the first 100 bloggers to sign up. This sounds like so much fun and I'm signing up, how about you?

Smokey Mountain Cafe's green bean casserole; I'm just saying...

Separating Bad Behavior and the Individual.

Down on the Farm is having a Cross Measuring Spoon giveaway.

All righty then, I've been at this computer way too long. I need to gather myself and get some things done that will make our lives easier. For those of you who have read since about this time last year, you know our situation; please keep us in your prayers.

Blessings ~ ocean ~ full moon ~ sunrise ~ good stuff ~ love ~ faith ~ hope ~

Waffle Winner

 ~ Chef's Choice Belgian Waffle Iron ~

My apologies for being a day late; sometimes life gets in the way of living but then, you know how that goes, right?

Dave pulled Pattie's, xmaswoman at hotmail dot com, name out of the hat so as soon as I hear from her, we'll have it confirmed.

BTW, Dave tells me our waffle iron shown here, was purchased in 1970 so that makes it vintage but still working.

Blessings ~ hot waffles ~ new waffle iron ~ folks who entered ~ maple syrup ~ butter ~


Thanks for visiting Thistle Cove Farm,
Sandra

Man Plans, God Laughs

~ the Cove, looking from the head of the valley ~

How many times have you made plans only to have them changed by "circumstances"? Yeah. Me too. This weekend is a case in point. We had plans but early hours found me moaning and groaning, stumbling along the hall, clutching at my left eye and thinking, "Oh No. Here we go again!"

Do you remember the Gary Larson, The Far Side cartoon where the spider, or perhaps insect, is standing beside the big foot, toes pointed upward and the caption read, "I don't know what happened. All of a sudden it was just coming toward me!" Apparently, someone was stuffing their foot into their shoe where a family of spiders or insects...for the life of me, can't remember which...had taken up residence. Their world turned upside down when "this thing", meaning the toes and foot, came at them like a freight train so they did what Nature means for them to do...they bit. YEOUCH! Man plummets like a stone and the little family is safe, again, for the time being. Some of his cartoons may be seen here although I didn't see "mine". Then again, it's all I can do to see this print so there it is.

Early hours, when my eyes opened, all I saw was a Big Foot coming at my left eye and before I could slam my eye s.h.u.t. BAM! that Big Foot was in my eye. YEOUCH! This time we weren't even horsing around, so to speak, we were coming awake, stretching to greet the day. It's been mentioned Sadie is a Large Dog and Large Dogs, generally, have Large Feet. As soon as her foot connected with my eye, I knew, beyond a shadow of doubt, the cornea was scratched. This has happened three times over the years, the most recent being in 2004 when a different dog paw, but same Ridgeback breed, connected with my eye. The first two times were decades ago when I was trying out a pair of hard contact lenses and found out, the painful way, my eyes didn't want to wear contact lenses.

If you've never cut your cornea, count your blessings. If you have, you know the intense, sheer Pain such an injury brings to the forefront of your consciousness. As soon as we were able, Dave took me to the emergency room where --- Thank YOU, Holy God --- we were the second people in the E. R. AND the E. R. doc was a person who spoke English as a first language. Yeah, I know that's not P. C. but it is the truth and I much prefer living by the Golden Rule than living by P. C. The later changes with the whim of a society while the former stands the test of eternity.

Doctor G. confirmed my diagnosis as cut cornea and eyelid then put in some drops for the pain, followed by some soothing antibiotic cream. He asked if I wanted a pain shot with pain pills to take home. I told him, "probably not" and he said, "I'll give you a few minutes to think about it." Lovely, wise man. In about twenty minutes I was asking Dave "find the doctor Right Now and tell him I WANT the pain medicine everything!" About that time, a nurse came into the room and I told her, "My stupid twin has left the building, Please give me pain medication!" I couldn't see and didn't realize it was a different nurse; Dave said she looked startled and he explained what I meant. Lovely, wise woman brought me a shot of something that covered the pain with fluffy white clouds. Ahhhhhh. For someone for whom aspirin is a Major Medication, her stuff was "interesting"...to say the least.

Today I went to my eye doctor and he said my eye has begun healing nicely and I should be fully recovered by this weekend. It's difficult to see, mainly due to the ointment and pain medication drops I use so I've been listening to audio books, thinking about projects and doing sa bit of web surfing until my eyes becomes too weary to bear the load.

Joni, Old Centennial Farmhouse, had a lovely post about various charities. She had blog hopped to Meadowbrook Farm where she read about Compassion International, I think because Meadowbrook Farm had written a post. Please, forgive me if I erred, it's due to vision difficulties. World Vision is another good ministry that reaches to folks simply because it's what Christ would have us do. Like Joni, I've participated in the Samaritan's Purse Shoebox Blessing and love the fact it gives useful gifts, as well as fun gifts, in a shoebox.

Generally, I keep my charitable giving closer to home but this year, Operation Smile keeps coming to me in various ways, so, I'll send "a piece of money", as Dave's Mother used to say, to Operation Smile.

I followed Joni's lead and visited Meadowbrook Farm --- funny aside, my high school was named Meadowbrook, no relation, smile --- and on to My Farmhouse Kitchen were I read of a young entrepreneur raising money for Heifer International. Heifer is another good charity but without a Christian slant. I know that's called non-partisan in political terms but it escapes me what it's called in this instance. I tend to support charities with a Christian focus for what good does it do for a man to gain the world and lose his soul? At any rate, I'm proud of Miss Helen, the young entrepreneur, for selling lemonade and cookies to raise money.

Next was a visit to Flower Patch Farmgirl where I enjoyed her tale of 'husband with camera stalking wife'. I'm almost always the stalker with a camera so it was fun reading her version and visiting a bit with those cute little kidlets.


The Keeping Room has changed her header photo and this one is Beautiful! It was with great sadness I read of the death of her nephew, Michael. My nephew passed away a couple of years ago and while the pain becomes easier to bear, it is never easy; you and yours are tucked into prayer.

Continuing my blog trek, I visited LuLu to enter her give-away.

Sew, Mama, Sew! continues Handmade Holidays III and Giveaway Day! If you have a giveaway, they will post it on their Dec 2 blog entry. It's a cool way to meet and greet in Blogland and I'm joining in. If you're not familiar with Craft Gossip, check them out...lots of great information to be had there. Edward and Lilly, one of my favorites, is having a lovely give-away as well.

Feedsack Fantasy is my kinda gal; she's sending Christmas cards...and to the ACLU no less! What a sweetheart and I'm going to join in! Also, Xerox is sending Thanks to our Troops.

My nephew, Wesley, is in Afghanistan now and I'm knitting Helmet Liners for he and some of his buddies. I found a Patons free instruction pamphlet at Michaels store but there's also a pattern on-line. I picked up a few extra, if you want one and would like to send it to Wesley's unit, let me know and I'll send you a hard copy. If you do knit one for Wesley's unit and want me to include it in my goodie box, send it to me and I'm happy to forward it on to him with a note saying you are the knitter.

David Wilkerson always has a thoughtful entry; well I remember him from his Cross and the Switchblade days in NYC. He ministered to drug addicts in the day when people weren't really quite sure what that meant, exactly, and he also founded World Challenge.

Ann Voskamp always, always touches me with both her pen and her camera. A Holy Experience is just that...holy and an experience. Recently she quoted St. Augustine in Confessions:

"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, every new, late have I loved you!...
Created things kept me from you;
yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all.
You called, You shouted, and You broke through my deafness.
You flashed, You shone, and You dispelled my blindness.
You breathed Your fragrance on me: I drew in breath and now I pant for you."

Doesn't that just make you absolutely weak?

There are so many other bloggers I'd like to tell you about but it will have to wait for another time. My eyes are weakening so I must use my medications and then rest my eyes. You are special and your visit is appreciated So Very Much; your comments even more so. God bless you.

Until next time,

Blessings ~ Doctor G. ~ vision ~ pain meds ~ antibiotic ointment ~ St. Augustine ~ helmet liners ~ our troops ~

Ennui and Give-Away

 Lately, there's been a sense of ennui around here. Nothing definite, nothing I can, quite, put my finger upon but, a very real, air of ennui. The dictionary says ennui is "a feeling of utter weariness and discontent resulting from satiety or lack of interest; boredom". I am not bored nor do I have a lack of interest; in truth, I have so many interests I tend to be scattered without focus or concentration. As to "satiety", that's not true either except in the idea of being satiated with work. There's always work to be done and I am overwhelmed with work, to the point of being so far behind, I feel I'll never catch up. I owe people yarn samples, have for some time, and am kicking myself to 'just do it!'


Perhaps the ennui stems from the political scene: it seems so overwhelming and unbearable. We, the voters, are so divergent, so contrary in our opinions and beliefs and seem to have a hard core idea of where, how and when the direction this country should be headed. We don't seem to listen anymore, especially our "elected representatives"; they especially seem to be listening solely to WIIFM radio. They only want to know, "What's In It For Me" and no one else matters, especially constituents.
I'm fearful. For us all.

Perhaps the sense of ennui comes from living in a haphazard state. Regardless of what I, or Dave, wanted, our house is still not finished from the water damage of eleven months ago. We're headed into winter with things left undone even though I asked, begged, pleaded and, eventually, demanded the work be accomplished. All for naught but I'm still going to "fix up" like everything has been accomplished to my satisfaction. The dining room will have furniture moved in, hopefully, this week and the drapes and sheers have been hung. I'll unpack those many, many boxes of porcelain, china and "precious goods" that Dave's mother left behind.


Hmmm. Wait a minute. Perhaps that's also a cause of ennui. Dave's mother passed away a year tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised if my body is responding to what my mind pushes away. That was a time fraught with overload; she became ill on 3 Nov and passed away on the 19th. A short, furious illness that was caused, essentially, by old age; she was well beyond 95 when she passed away. She died on Wednesday, a few moments before midnight, and was buried on Saturday; that time was full of details, details, details that are now, mostly, forgotten. Not the day though. That Saturday was bitter; the temperature was about 24F, wind chill was around 15F above, snow snugged the ground and sleet split the sky. The only good thing about that week were the people, family and friends who gathered to support, pray and love us through that time.

~ Mrs. Mary Crockett Bowen Bricker ~

Yesterday, we took Boscoe to the vet and there's yet another mystery. He wasn't getting better as quickly as he should have and a vet visit was in order. Dr. Anne hasn't a clue what the underlying cause of his epizootics are but she thinks environmental. She also thinks his immune system has crashed and his paws look like he's been "introduced" to chemicals that have eaten away the top layers. He was full of ear mites and fleas - both signs of a compromised immune system - and she stuffed him full of antibiotics, flea treatment, ear mite treatment and steroids. She thinks he'll pull through, we should know in a week to ten days. Bos is already feeling better; he greeted me this morning as a cat should, by stretching and taking notice of what was going on around him. His appetite is excellent and he's shown an enormous appreciation for the canned tuna we've been feeding him. Bos is eating dry cat food but we felt he could do with some pure protein as well; he agrees. He also thinks he should be allowed to go outside but, not yet, perhaps not ever again.

~ Bos Man ~

In the past week, I've mailed a baby quilt, three hats and a fleece throw to folks; have almost finished the quilt top for my nephew's Christmas gift and have knitted two mobius scarves.  I'm thinking some serious studio time might put me to rights or, at the bare minimum, leave me with something to show for my time. There are several quilts to finish as Christmas gifts, some more knitting, some mini-art quilts and a few other smaller projects. I'm having to plot my time carefully so things will be finished and received by folks by Christmas day.

~ Deer quilt, in hunter's colors, for nephew ~

Two days after Christmas I leave for Tomsk, Siberia where I'll spend time in an orphanage and then go to Moscow where Christmas will be celebrated with Russian Christians on Epiphany, 6 January. I love celebrating Christmastide, more so than just Christmas. It's an entire Season from Advent, 1 Dec., through Epiphany, 6 Jan., and prepares us, Christ's disciples, to look ahead to world missions in light of the Nativity.

In the western world, we've gotten away from the Christmas SEASON and are focused solely on the material aspect of the day - the buying, wrapping, giving and receiving of gifts - and not The Gift that makes the rest possible. Christmas begins what Easter finishes: God's Divine Plan.

One suitcase is being filled with little gifts for both children and adults and it makes me so happy to open it and think of the joy they will bring. The Children's Home, as orphanages are called, houses children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Down's Syndrome and those with physical handicaps. Gifts include small hand lotions, vinyl shopping bags, stuffed toys, balls, packets of flower seeds, bubbles, New Testaments, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks and whatever else can be found before Christmas. If you'd like to send a little something, let me know and I'll give you my snail mail address. I'll try to blog from the road so pray that and the trip will be a success.


A bucket of walnuts, soaking in water, will be used to dye some naturally colored Thistle Cove Farm yarn. I always enjoy using walnut dye on dark yarn as it gives a richness and depth of color that caresses the light in a way man-made dyes cannot.

~ Nut Bucket ~

  
I visited family this last weekend; we met at Mother and Daddy's cabin in Webster County, WV and rode over to Randolph County to visit my brother. Fairview Farm, his farm, is for sale and is absolutely beautiful! It's about 130 acres, bordered on two sides by National Forest, about 19 miles from Snowshoe, has some pasture, some wooded, all fenced, a pond, outbuildings, two-vehicle garage and much, much more. It's Very Private, with a quarter mile driveway that juts off from a dirt road that juts off from a two-lane, un-lined secondary road.

 Probably, the house and other buildings cannot be seen, photo on right, but this is from the top of the mountain, looking down upon the house.
The house and other buildings are in a small enclave, photo left.

 ~ Fairview Farm ~

 
It's not good, I don't believe, for me to focus upon myself too much; self reflection tends to result in too much belly button gazing and serves to compound what niggling little problems I think I might have. I much prefer to use my blog to focus on the Good Things but, if you've read this entry and said a prayer, please know you have my gratitude. That's one thing I enjoy about blogland - "meeting" other folks and tucking you into prayer as you are brought to mind throughout the day and week and, hopefully, y'all do the same.

If you're interested in having a first edition copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's Gift From The Sea, leave me a comment and your name will go into the drawing. Please note there is a name and address on the inside cover and that, probably, detracts from the value but it's still a free book, shipping included.

From Gift From The Sea:  
"...I want first of all...to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact - to borrow from the language of the saints - to live "in grace" as much of the time as possible...By grace I mean an inner harmony, essentially spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony...I would like to achieve a state of inner spiritual grace from which I could function and give as I was meant to in the eye of God..."

I'll take names until midnight Friday; draw will be Saturday and book mailed Monday.

Until next time,

Blessings ~ Advent ~ Christmas ~ Epiphany ~ Christmastide ~ giving ~ spiritual grace ~ dyeing ~

Friday Feature

~ The lovely Christmas cactus hangs at the studio, blooming on God's time, not man's time. ~

Ahem...clearing throat. By now it's apparent I am not very good at group blog entries and, for that reason, I'm giving up the Friday Fiber Arts Carnival. I'm the weak link, have been from the start, and every Friday, to do a group blog entry is not something my brain is hard wired to do. Okay, perhaps you're thinking of Sabbath Keeping on Sunday. That's different for two reasons - it's my baby and I've made a deliberate choice in my life to keep the Sabbath. To have a "mini-vacation" at the end, and the beginning, of every week; to keep the Sabbath holy by allowing myself to renew, refresh, restore and focus on God, church, family and, sometimes, friends. That's God's gift to all of us and my gift to myself and my life would crash and burn should I neglect to "Sabbath Keep".

So, on Friday's I'm starting a "Friday Feature" where I say thanks to someone or introduce a blogger friend or talk about fiber folks. Perhaps, some Friday's, I'll include, or combine, all three.

Today, please meet KC Willis of Lipstick Ranch. Maybe you remember KC's name from another post or perhaps you've run across her on the i-net. She's a gifted textile artist who has, recently, discovered how much she loves teaching and has flung herself into teaching with the wild, but controlled, abandon, also evident in her art. KC sold me her first teaching DVD and I've used it extensively as both entertainment and for learning. Like all great teachers, KC is free and easy with her methods and holds nothing back; if I'm not learning, it's because I'm not paying attention.

She also gives stuff away! I missed out on her 53rd birthday package; mainly because I wasn't paying attention...note to self...MAKE NOTES RE. IMPORTANT STUFF!...and let her deadline get away from me. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She's given me, and you, another opportunity to win; this time a $300 shopping spree at her Colorado Lipstick Ranch but hurry, the drawing is September 5th.

BTW, other teachers will be teaching, specifically Joanna Pierotti and Sarah Fishburn, both gifted artists and instructors.

~ Another section of the Cove, where we live. ~

On my way to exercise class, I took the above photo of another section of the Cove. The morning light is beautiful as it pours across the hills and vales.

~ The southeast corner of our alfalfa field. ~

Tuesday, we baled dry hay...Thank You, God!...and I love this photo. The hay wagon is stacked almost as high as possible while the hay rows stretch out before and after. What a blessing, to have so many dry, square bales of excellent quality hay! On top of the 363 bales, we also baled 6 round bales.

~ Abigail, Von Rotten the Terror, ready for her close up ~

~ Maggie Mae curls up next to Sadie, but keeps a watchful eye on Sam. ~

~ Sadie, Maddie Lou, Maggie Mae, Sam, Granma Gracie ~

Most mornings begin with dogs and cats and me, seated on the sofa in the sun room, listening to Alistair Begg and others on XM radio. Usually, it's Abigail, Sadie, Sam and me but, sometimes the kittens want in on the action. Especially if they think the dogs are getting too much attention.

~ Keniba Thistle Cove Sadie and Sam P. Spade, Secret Agent Man, play roundabout chase in the front yard. ~

Being simple folks, Dave and I enjoy sitting on the porch watching the dogs romp and play. With frost just about two weeks hence, there aren't too many more porch sitting days so we enjoy them whilst we can.

~ Abigail and Sam P. Spade, Secret Agent Man, enjoying a "cigar" chewie ~

By choice, our lives are full yet, relatively, peaceful. We spend enormous amounts of time on the farm, in the company of each other and our animals. My time is spent in the studio where I quilt, spin, make mini-quilts, or in the kitchen where I bake and cook. I also tend to all the animals and almost every morning is spent in the sun room, watching the sun awaken the valley while I listen to XM radio preachers. Thursdays nights are my quilting bee nights and, generally, the only day of the week spent in the company of other women. Sundays are church then back home to enjoy peace, quiet and calm. Then, there are times of havoc...such as now, getting the house renovations accomplished before cold weather. We still have a ways to go but are getting it done, one step at a time.

Until next time,

Blessings ~ the Christian i-net family of artisans and crafters ~ morning light ~ preaching on the air waves, what a mystery! ~ a full life ~ God's timing ~ each other ~

Give-away, Kittens, Farm Life, Cherie

~ The Cove, photo taken earlier this evening. ~

Matthew, computer doc, brought my power pack back...all fixed. Yadda, yadda, yadda is what he said was wrong; all I know it's working now -smile-. Thanks, Matthew! He's a great young man, steady, dependable and is quite concerned with how government is being so intrusive in our lives. He told me he goes on demonstrations with great regularity and let our Congress rep know exactly what he was doing wrong and how to correct his direction. GO Matthew!

Deanna responded to the note saying she'd won the mini-quilt wall hanging so that will be mailed...perhaps tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then first of the week. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to break loose like a big girl's girdle and take off like a shot. We're still working on the house renovation and I think the guys will be back tomorrow. I sure hope so as they haven't been here in a couple of weeks and I'm a bit READY to have the house livable. Also, hoping our neighbor comes to help me with horse's feet; the horses need their feet cleaned and one of the mares is a trifle lame. I picked her feet tonight and noticed she needs trimming so need to get the farrier here as well. It wasn't a good time for any of us...horses, dogs or me as we got into a yellow jacket nest and were all bitten rather soundly for our troubles. I put vinegar on my stings and then stuff specifically for stings; the pain has lessened a bit but I think I may have developed a bit of an allergy. I got light headed, broke out in a cold sweat, dizzy...'course, that could just be the blonde talking. Sadiekins was stung as well which upset her apple cart; I think Abbie and Sam escaped the torment.

~ Maddie, posing like she's the Queen of the Household. ~

Remember the kittens rescued from drowning a few months ago? Well, Maddie, the gray tabby, and Maggie, the darker kitten, have been brought into the house to be house cats. This makes Miss Emma Really Happy as she headed outside every chance she got so she could play with her friends. This also meant Miss Emma was taking Forever to recover from her cold, even with meds given twice daily. This morning I brought Maddie and Maggie into the house and they have shown every intention of never wanting to go outside again. Miss Emma ran outside this morning, looking for her playmates, having forgotten they were inside. In a few minutes, she was back at the door, asking to be let inside and here she has stayed all day. It's nice to have kittens again; both Dave and I have really missed our cats. Miss Jenny went to live with someone else and she's much, much happier being the only cat in their household. She had really become a problem, attacking both other animals and humans and causing havoc in the household. She's been gone a couple of weeks and, within the first 24 hours, adjusted quite nicely to her new home.

~ Maggie, hiding under the table and not happy to be surprised. ~

But, with Miss Jenny gone, that left us with no house cats. Earlier this year, TC, 91, Bandit and Miss Kitty all passed away and the house was really lonely without cats or kittens. Maddie, Maggie and Miss Emma have filled the silence very nicely and kitten joy reigns once again.

~ Maddie and Miss Emma, playing around my rag rug loom. ~

This past weekend Dave had a business trip to Raleigh, NC and through a series of fortunate events, I met a blog friend. Cherie and her husband Aris, have two AAAdorable boys, Matthew and AJ and we spent an enjoyable time at the Crabtree Valley Mall food court. This was only the second time I've ever been in the Crabtree Valley Mall and found it totally overwhelming. Cherie laughed when I told her there were more people in that mall on Saturday than lived in our little county seat of Tazewell, VA. It seemed to me, most of those people were under dressed as well; I've not seen that much flesh since the last time I went to the beach!

~ Cherie, Aris, Matthew and AJ - what a Beautiful Family! ~

Cherie is a nurse and her husband an engineer; the two boys are geniuses! Bright as copper pennies, well spoken and, considering this was the first time we ever met, not all that shy. I'm looking forward to when they can visit Thistle Cove Farm and am hoping for a visit this autumn. Cherie, Aris and Matthew came to this country from the Philippines and are making their home now in NC. What tremendous courage this young couple has...to uproot, leave family, friends and homeland and move halfway 'round the world. I am in awe of their courage. The USA is fortunate they decided to move here and my life is greatly enriched to meet them and call them friends.

~ Matthew is on my lap and Cherie is holding her youngest son, AJ. ~

We stayed at the Embassy Suites and the same weekend the Black Hat Divas were also having their "first annual convention". Although, I've never understood "first annual"...how can anything be a first and an annual? It's either one OR the other, right? Anyway, this group is an offshoot of the Red Hat Society, a group purely to gather and "have fun". The Red Hatters, as they call themselves, were founded in 1998 so have been around a while and is a group for women over the age of 50 but allow "Pink Hatters" to join as well. I believe Pink Hatters are Red Hatters wannabees, so to speak. Apparently, Black Hat Divas, as they told my friend, "are Red Hatters but with more elegance and bling". They are purely and simply a social club, women who gather together to party. That's it. Party.

~ Black Hat Divas...and these are some of the more conservatively dressed! ~

Ummm. Okay. I didn't get that chip when God was handing them out 'cause I just don't get it. One woman got on the elevator with a HUGE pin, fake rhinestone costume jewelery, that said, "It's All About Me". Sheesh. I bet she passed those genes on, ya think? Don't get me wrong; I'm not against having fun. I'm not even against women playing dress up; whatever floats their pontoon. I'm not against them spending their money on fluff but what I don't understand is spending many hundreds of dollars on fluff...fake rhinestone costume jewelery, ostrich feathers, a weekend at the Embassy Suites celebrating "It's All About Me". I simply do not get it; I'm glad they had a good time though even though the rest of us were going, "WHAT THA????" Did I mention there's an entire industry built up around these groups? You would not believe the shopping area where one could buy ostrich feather hats that were three feet high or fake rhinestone costume jewelery stating "It's All About Me" or "Queen Bee" or whatever. Women showed up at breakfast in their nightclothes, for crying out loud! It was like being at the mall except the flesh was peeking out from night gowns slit up to there and plunging down to there. I'm telling you, a lot of ostriches gave up all their feathers for this crowd.

Okay, now the disclaimer. I admit I am Very Conservative, both in dress and politics. I believe in little to no government, people tending to their own business, living their own lives in peace and respectability and I dress in natural fibers. Actually, I could probably do a walk-on in a Miss Marple movie and look like I belonged. -smile- I am not saying anything against these women as individuals; I'm merely saying I don't get the "crowd mentality" of "bling"...unless, of course, it's Real Bling and then I'm all over it! I do enjoy going with my girlfriend to her Saint Martin condo every spring and hitting the jewelery stores in Philipsburg. Real Bling I can handle with aplomb -smile-.

By now, you're probably thinking, "gosh, it was a lot less to read when her computer was on the fritz". -smile- Today I'm giving away another little inspirational mini-quilted wall hanging. The proverb states, "The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism". Whew! There's a sermon if ever I've heard one and if you feel led, as the old preacher said, to "save me by criticism", please let me know. If you "get the hatters", please explain it, 'cause I sure don't. Get it, that is; I'm still shaking my head.

~ Ribbons, seed pods, buttons, charms, thread, fabric, batting, bits and pieces. ~

Blessings ~ Cherie, Aris, Matthew, AJ ~ kittens ~ travel ~ mini-quilted wall hanging ~ Matthew, computer doc ~ Deanna ~ the US of A ~

Mini-Quilt Wallhanging

If I've not heard from Becky, NC, by 5:00 today, a new random generated number will be chosen. That brings the entries down so chances of winning are improving! -smile-

I've been in the studio this week and have ready six baby quilts sewn together, needing hand quilting and a new mini-quilt inspirational wall hanging. Hopefully, I'll show you on Friday and yes, it's a giveaway as well. Don't we all need a little inspiration and love in our lives? I know my life benefits when those things are applied in abundance. Even better, so do the lives of those around me.

It's a "God-thing" but then, isn't it all God-things?!

Blessings ~ quilted wall hangings ~ baby quilts ~ studio time ~ deep breaths ~ prayer ~ love ~ inspiration ~ Miss Emma in my lap ~

SEWN

Sarah Fielke, the new creative director of SEWN, is having a fabulous giveaway on her blog, The Last Piece. Sarah is, among other things, a quilter and as you may...or may not -smile-...know, I call myself a quilter in that I make bed and baby quilts. I'd love to branch off into art quilts, and will one day, but for now am struggling to keep up with the babies and people to whom I've promised a quilt.

Don't get me wrong. I am not an excellent quilter. At best, I am a good quilter but my quilts are made with a LOTTA love and prayers and I reckon that makes up for a few wonky stitches and seams. Please, tell me you agree -smile-.

In the spirit of the Grand Opening of SEWN, I am joining in with a giveaway of five fat quarters as shown above. I'm a little confused, as usual, but think all that's necessary for someone to win is to leave a comment at this entry. At least, that's my story and, for now, I'm sticking to it.

Blessings ~ blogland because SEWN is located in Australia ~ quilting ~ quilts ~ fat quarters ~ fun stuff ~

National Apron Day

Of course there's a National Apron Day! Ahem. You DO have an apron, right? Some folks may think aprons are silly but for those of us who wear them, we know they are as necessary a tool as the stove to the kitchen. I've been collecting and wearing aprons for decades. I well remember Grandmother Hattie Gaye Hamrick Bennett wearing her apron, morning to late night. She was never without her apron and it was always the pinafore kind. None of those silly little half aprons for her! She kept home on a homestead farm in Webster County, WV, was born in the late 1800's and knew a woman was only as good as the work her two hands produced.

You see, that was back in the time when survival, quite literally Survival, depended upon knowing how to fix a fire in the cook stove, butcher a hog or chicken, put up food the hard way - by canning on the wood stove and a slew of other tasks that were, simply, hard work. Clothes were washed on a scrub board or, later Glory Hallelujah! in a wringer washer. Sheep were kept for wool to be spun into yarn to be woven into cloth; cows were kept to raise a calf for meat and then to milk for cream, milk, butter and buttermilk; hogs were kept for slaughter and to have hams, bacon, middlins and such in the winter and chickens for pot, chicks and eggs.

Many the time I've watched Grandmother or Aunt Bonnie catch a chicken, wring its neck off and toss it to the ground while they swept up another. Or, if the chicken was near the chopping block, they would catch it up, place its head on the block and hold it while, with their other hand, they would use the ax to cut off the head. Watching a headless chicken run around while it bleeds out is an unusual sight, indeed!

I don't rightly recall Aunt Bonnie wearing aprons, I need to call Aunt Esther and ask her. Come to think of it, I don't recall Aunt Esther wearing aprons either but I do have an old Brownie photo of Grandmother and she's in her apron, sitting on the front porch with Granddaddy. A million dollars couldn't buy that photo!

This apron was purchased in Alaska when Dave and I visited last September. It's a great apron, very useful - the bodice is of heavy duty cotton with a fishing print while the bottom is a towel. The neck has a velcro piece so it can be, somewhat, adjusted and the ties go 'round the waist. I use this apron when I've got heavy duty work - making apple butter in the kettle outside, gardening or dyeing wool. It's a great apron...but I've already mentioned that, eh? -smile-

The Apronista is having a nice little contest to celebrate National Apron Day and I've decided to play along. I think I have only one apron that doesn't look well loved nor well worn. It could be because that's the one I was given as a gift this past November or because I've yet to wear it. It's so lovely and I'm not one who can wear an apron for looks alone. I wear aprons because they are Useful with a capital U. They are used for wiping hands, wiping sweat from my brow, gathering veggies or fruit, carrying a kitten, wiping a dogs' paw, as pockets when I have none on my dress or pants, carrying the mail or flowers and yes, even in the kitchen to retrieve something from the oven or stove. Aprons have myriad uses and each day brings another use.

This is the gift apron. Someone at the nursing home made a few hand embroidered things for their fund raiser and this apron was bought by someone who knows me fairly well. She knows I have a "thing" for aprons and had admired this one. At the end of the day, she surprised me with it and it's a gift I cherish. I'd probably wear it at Christmas, after the work was done, so I could look nice while carrying dishes from stove to table.


This is a close-up of the hand embroidered work at the hem. Absolutely Lovely!I've had this apron for decades, probably forty years or so. It's so cute...One cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs...and all hand embroidered. It's a half apron.

This is one of the first aprons I ever bought and my, then, boyfriend didn't think it so funny. It says "A fool and his money are some party"...I thought it a cute play on words even if he didn't.

So, there you have it. Some of my aprons that see daily use. I've several dozen more that are vintage and well loved well worn that I'll show you later. I enjoy looking at them, wondering about who used them for what purpose. Some are old shirts made into useful aprons with just a bit of life left.

Just like us, eh? A bit old but still useful -smile-.

Blessings ~ aprons ~ vintage ~ family ~ fun ~ heritage ~

Project Blogway Challenge

Lisa Swifka and Terisa Brooks-Huddleston have come up with a great idea. You may recall Lisa's name from the One World One Heart blog event and Terisa's blog, Running with Scissors, tickles my funny bone. Visit her to see the "diaper cake" she put together for her brother and sister-in-love's first child...TOO CUTE!

So, the Project Blogway Challenge is creating a "green" garment, all recycled materials and you don't even have to know how to sew! How cool it that! Plenty cool baby! The runway show is May 1 so there's not all that much time to get cracking.

Check it out; you may want to enter. If you do enter, hope you win!

Blessings ~ cool Blogland stuff ~ recycling ~ diaper cakes ~ babies ~ cats ~

Friday Fiber Arts Carnival

I've finished a few projects and am posting photos. My apologies to my swap partners because I am, woefully, late in mailing. All of us were late in the exchange but that's still no excuse and I apologize to my textile post cards folks. Next time, I'll have the cards made and *then* join in the exchange.

This post card is encased in plastic wrap, ready to be mailed. There's an opening on the backside for the stamp so it can be hand cancelled. It's entiled M is for blue Monday. Frankly, I have few blue Mondays but the exchange was "M" and I liked the way the blues came together. I especially like the rainbow ribbon around the card. Like Dolly Parton always says, "I figure if you wanna have a rainbow, you've got to have the rain." She recently released "Backwoods Barbie", for sale at Cracker Barrel, and I figure it's got to be great. It's Dolly, right!? I absolutely know she'd make a fabulous Galfriend, doncha think?
The rotten truth be known...? Basically, I'm self taught, using magazines and the i-net to teach myself. The rural area of Appalchia where I live is lacking in classes in the textile arts. There are some quilting classes and I love the little group that has taken me under their wing. They are Teachers, one and all. There's no competition, no rivalry, no oneupmanship. Jut a very real and very basic desire to pass the craft along. I've been to other quilting groups that were a tad "frozen" in their approach. Their words of "praise" were, somewhat sadly, lacking in real enthusiasm. Somehow, "that's nice, dear" lacks the ring of conviction of what we hear in our little group, "HOW BEAUTIFUL! Look at how those colors are put together." Or, "just look at that stitching, how tidy!" These women can find beauty in the simply fact that someone t-r-i-e-d. What a gift, the gift of enthusiasm, of kind words spoken in season. How Very Real!


It's obvious I was on a Blue Monday kick, haven't any idea why, really, but here it is. But, back to the rotten truth. My textile postcards aren't like the textile post cards I received. Those are stunning. They have this stitched edge that's even and goes all around the card; there's, probably, a word for that stitch and a special sewing machine that does that stitch, but I haven't a clue what either is.

My work is, to put it nicely, primitive. Maybe not even that; it's "me" though and I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I just hope the other women enjoy them and, hopefully, have kind words to bestow.

The post card with the yellow felt bird is for my friend, Mary Lois. She and I have been friends for almost thirty years, have seen good times and difficult times, but have been friends throughout. She's a wonderful person and my life has been greatly enriched by her friendship. I know she'll be pleased to receive this little card; she has a grateful heart and is genuinely appreciative.


The bottom card is the M series and this one is for mask, moon, mirror, me in the mirror. Gosh, I was really on an M kick there, eh?

Anna Mary Robertson Moses, aka Grandma Moses is probably one of the best know folk artists and she began painting in her seventies. Few people know she already had a career in embroidery that she gave up due to arthritis. She was self-taught and that gives me courage to keep in the direction I'm headed. I love fiddling around with textiles and fibers and I love seeing how I can take a bit of cloth or sweater and make something useful and pretty. Grandma Moses is a pretty woman, even in old age, and reminds me of Dave's mother. They both have that "grandma" look although Mrs. Bricker wasn't keen on being a great-grandma, however she was proud of having taught hard science at the college level. Both women have that early to mid 20th century "look"...black pillbox hat with veil, gloves and both have that spark that translates to a love of life, what the French call joie de vie.

Here's to LIFE; may you live it out loud with a grateful heart!

Blessings ~ life ~ laughter ~ the work of our hands ~ love ~ rainbows ~ Grandma's ~

One World One Heart

I am late. Woefully late but, hopefully, as it's said, better late than never. I'm a self taught person in, just about, everything I do. While it's true I do have an undergrad degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Recreation, Parks and Tourism, it's also true that program no longer exists at VCU. Why, you ask? Good question. Some person, somewhere along the line decided it was no longer useful or needed. Frankly, that boggles my mind. Tourism is the Number One industry in Virginia, and just about every other state as well, and it amazes me people have no vision. Proverbs 29:18 says, "without a vision the people perish" and it's just as true today as it was some few thousand years ago.This tea cozy is my offering in the One World One Heart 2009 event. Using wool sweaters, bought from thrift stores, I felt them and then use them for various projects. Tea cozies are one of my favorites. They offer a large canvas that's forgiving and easy on my poor hands. My hands take a beating and, right now, I'm still suffering from a fall in January of last year. My left hand broke, somewhat, my fall but it still pains me and there are days it's, virtually, unusable. Lately there have been many such days. I've been getting ready for sheep shearing and my hands have taken a beating and have given me pain in return, especially the left one.

The tea cozy is a felted wool sweater embellished with ribbons, beads, felted flowers, wire ribbon, rick rack, embroidery, angel pin and whatever else I turned my hand to. It's going to Katie S. in Springfield, MO and I'm sure she's wondering if it was all a bad joke. Nope, Katie, it's not a bad joke and you should receive it by early week. I hope you enjoy.

My work in fiber and textiles is from trial and error. I did try taking spinning lessons, once, but the "teacher" was abrupt, hasty and lacking patience...do you think I've gotten that across yet? -smile- so I took the one "lesson", left and never returned. I like my work, I enjoy my work and others have told me they do as well. Still and all, there are times I question what I do but then...don't we all at times?The back of the tea cozy has a small, felted heart button. I could have tarted it up a bit more but felt this little heart button said what I wanted to say. The tea cozy was made with love and prayers in the hopes it will get lots of use. Perhaps Katie will even say a prayer for me when she uses it. I hope so.

Blessings ~ OWOH ~ felted sweaters ~ the fits of our hands and heart as well as the work of our hands and hearts ~

Kreative Blogger Award and freebies

Mandie, Life in the Craft Lane, has the above, free, on her site. She's a talented gal and seeing how it's April 1st, this seems to be appropriate!

One Prim Girl is having a fabulous giveaway and you've got until 15 April to enter and, hopefully, win.

You Can Make This is giving away a Janome Marie Osmond Quilter's Companion sewing machine. How cool is that?! Hope I win this one...hope you do too!

Now for blog news...

There are those who proudly proclaim their blogs are award free; God love 'em. I'm not one. I get excited over beautiful sunrises or sunsets, kisses from Dave or the animals, the sunshine streaming in through the windows on Sunday morning, a handwritten note from a friend...the list is endless.

Sara of Sweet Magnolia has given me a Kreative Blogger Award; thank you, Sara. According to the rules, I must say seven things I love and then pass along. If you're reading this, please consider yourself a Kreative Blogger. You are appreciated for the heart and artful blogs you keep, for allowing me to enter into your homes, dreams, photos, lives. Thank you so much. Please take the button, put it on your blog and then...pass it along, pay it forward, share the blessing.

Seven things I love ~

1. The Trinity and the Word but especially Salvation

2. My family - Dave, Jim and Gladys Bennett, Steven and Donette Bennett, Stephanie and Walt Townsend, Jerry Wayne Jr. and Dustin Williams,

3. Thistle Cove Farm and all the animals living here - dogs, cats, sheep, horses

4. Friends - near, far and in Blogland

5.Good health in part due to good food prepared well and nourishing to both body and eye

6. the work of hands and hearts that love God

7. Hope...I love to hope and find comfort in my belief God is in control.

Blessings ~ 1 through 7 above ~ giveaways ~ hope ~ Sara ~ good health ~

Fabric Give-away

There's a fabric give-away over at M & M Studio, check out the fabulous fabrics. One is sure remind you of spring.

You're All Winners!

One World One Heart 2009 is now over...all except for the naming of the giftees.

It's been delightful meeting so many new people, visiting so many new blogs. It's also been a wild day; we've had rain and winds of 50 to 65 miles per hour which will continue until tomorrow. Or, so I'm told. I've spent much of my day battening down the hatches...so to speak.

The following will receive gifts and tomorrow, Thursday, barring unexpected happenings, I'll post photos and finish bringing up to date.

KJ won the yarn.
Bethel of Bethania in Australia won the bookmark.
Ragamuffin Gal won the tea cozy.

One World One Heart

One World One Heart
It's that time again...from now until 12 Feb Lisa has declared One World One Heart!

You must please post to have a chance of winning. "What", you may ask, "will I win?"

Hmmm...how about *a 200 yard skein of farm spun, worsted weight, natural colored gray tweedy heather 100% virgin wool yarn, from a down breed sheep that would make some wonderful socks or hat or, perhaps, a small scarf. And, *a hand crafted book mark and my *third gift is a hand felted, hand embellished tea cozy but you have to invite me to tea.

I should post photos but it's dark, cold and snowy outside and the aforementioned items are outside in my studio so I'll post photos later this week.

You should be a blogger to enter and win and you should leave me some kind of contact information. IOW, no annny mouse comments, please.

Please click on the OWOH button to find more information or, perchance, to sign up yourself. It's a tonne of fun and a way to pass along a blessing or two or three...


Blessings ~ OWOH 2009 ~ other bloggers ~ gifts ~ Lisa ~ learning something new...how to put a badge on my blog...WOW! ~

Contests, Challenges

Don't you just love to have a chance to win something from another blogger? I know I do and want to tell you of two.

Check the Third Annual One World One Heart event. It's a ton of fun to make something as well as, possibly, get something. I'd like to figure out how to add buttons to my blog; the One World One Heart button is great! In the meantime, it's listed under 'events' on my side bar.

Visit The Cart Before the Horse for a chance to win a cute little bird. You need to post a comment for one chance to win, comment on your blog for another chance and there are a couple more opportunities. Go and see.

Leah Piken Kolidas is hosting the Second Annual Creative Everyday Challenge 2009, again with a wonderful button. As I'm drawing closer to hearth and home, this seems a timely event to join. What with Dave's mother being with us for so long and needing, almost constant, care my creative-ness has, often, been pushed to the back burner. I'm going to make a concentrated effort to finish my UFO's, complete my trades and be creative everyday in 2009. I'm not an artist...I don't draw or paint, although I'd love to have that talent but I do fiddle around with fabrics, yarn, quilting, textile postcards, knitting, spinning, felting and the like. Leah says 'all' creativity is acceptable so I'm in like flint...YEAH!!!

Now to figure out how to add buttons...

Blessings ~ meeting new people via the i-net ~ a beautiful sunny day ~ hot beverage in a lovely cup ~ a dog's head craddled on my lap ~ the kitten playing in a sun spot ~ contests ~

A Fine Fleece Winner!

We have a winner...but first, the disclaimers. We don't go for that high tech, fancy pants method of picking a winner. Nope, with us, it's simple and easy peasy as pie. I merely wrote the names on pieces of paper, tore them into, approximately, the same size and dropped them into a plastic bag. Dave had the pleasure of pulling a name out of the bag, so to speak.

A Fine Fleece was won by a Ravlery sister as well as one across the mountains...Iris. There were about fourteen folks who wanted to win so the chances were a whale of a lot better than any lottery I've ever seen. For those who didn't win, there will be other opportunities as I'm downsizing my library and will, about once a month, give away a book or books.

Hey Iris...I'm sorely tempted to say, come pick up your book the next time you come across the mountain but a deals a deal so I'll drop it in the mail this week. -smile-

The rest of y'll, stay tuned for more chances to win.

Blessings ~ books to give away ~ folks who enjoy books ~ yarn ~ knitting ~ rain ~ winning ~

Two Contests

I ran across a contest for women entrepreneurs you might find interesting and profitable. Information taken directly from their webpages; please visit for more details.

Digital Growth Contest

"Attention, women entrepreneurs...

Enter our Digital Growth Contest and you could win a free year of high-speed Internet and other prizes from a cable company, and a free one-year membership with Ladies Who Launch.

All you need to do is tell us an inspiring story about your business — and you could be a Digital Growth Contest winner!

It's easy to enter. We invite you, a spouse, friend or colleague to write an essay in 250 words or less, telling us the story of your business — emphasizing the opportunity, the challenges and the rewards of entrepreneurship. Each essay must also include an anecdote that illustrates how your business could benefit from a communications technology upgrade.

The deadline is Thursday, November 13, 2008, 11:59 ET, so don’t procrastinate!"

The Knitting Scholar site has a contest to share some largesse; check it out then, go and do likewise.

One World One Heart Fabric/Textile Postcard

Go Figure.

Blogger will now allow me to post a photo of the textile/fabric postcard I'm sending Teresa. Hope you like it Miss T!