Rest in Peace

 ~ view from my window ~

"Weep not for me though I am gone,
Into that gentle night.
Grieve if you will, but not for long,
Upon my soul's sweet flight.
I am at peace, my soul's at rest,

There is no need for tears.
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years.
There is no pain, I suffer not,
The fear now all is gone.
Put now these things out of your thoughts,
In your memory I live on.
Remember not my fight for breath,
Remember not the strife,
Please do not dwell upon my death,
But celebrate my life."

~ Constance Jenkins ~

Leslie, a dear friend, lost Ron on Saturday. They were mountain hiking, a favorite pastime, when he was felled by a heart attack. Leslie and I have been friends ever since I came to southwest Virginia and my heart grieves for her. Please, remember Leslie and Ron's family in your prayers as they go about these next days, the Friday funeral and life yet to be lived.

Blessings ~ good memories ~ love ~ a life well lived ~ 

Sandra

Life's Ugly Side

~ apple blossoms ~

The apple tree is in full bloom and bees are busy with pollination; the morning is beautiful but only after a rough start.

Photos are going to get a bit graphic so, if you're squeamish, better close out the page now.

 ~ Dogs doing as nature intended ~

Early this morning, as usual, dogs and I were in the sunroom, listening to Alistair Begg while I was working on some pillow case embroidery, when Sam, quite suddenly, goes on alert. He starts baying and barking and I jump to the door to see what's going on. I thought I saw the squirrel so opened the door and all three dogs barreled outside. The squirrel runs along the other side of the fence line and always away from the dogs but, too late, I see a raccoon, running alongside the fence. The 'coon climbed the fence post and the dogs got into place.

~ Sadie, too close for my comfort ~

We live in a very rural area and guns are a fact of life. Unfortunately, guns couldn't be used because the dogs were too excited to be called off and, truthfully, I wanted Sadie and Sam to understand their role. Abbie is a veteran ground hog killer and she and Shadow were a good working team. Abbie would tease while Shaddie would go in for the kill bite to the back of the neck. Never were either one of them injured, much, and they both learned valuable lessons about team work.

~ team work ~

Please understand; I do not enjoy killing nor watching something being killed...but...I also do not enjoy having to put down one of my animals because of rabies. There's a neighbor, up the valley, who had to have rabies shots when he was a lad. This was back when said shots were injected into the stomach and were Very Painful. Now, said injections are into the buttocks but no less painful, so I'm told.

Generally, nocturnal animals are just that; they sleep during the day and travel at night. Raccoons are nocturnal and it's, fairly, unusual to see them during the day. Unless they are sick and I never, ever take chances; not with my animals' lives nor with my own.

Sam took the lead but it was Abbie who taught Sam and Sadie how to attack. Sadie is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and used for lion hunting, guarding home and farm in South Africa. Sam is part Basset Hound and has hunting genes coursing through his blood as well. All three dogs are encouraged to protect "theirs" and that includes farm, livestock and humans. If it takes the life of a raccoon to help them learn, so be it especially when the raccoon is acting outside his normal.

  ~ end is close ~

Like I said, I hate killing, both doing and watching, but I've always figured someone who wouldn't protect their home and family isn't worth their salt. I'm not proud of killing the raccoon but did what I had to do in order to finish the job. I couldn't use a gun because I didn't want to shoot one of the dogs so I used a walking stick. Not pretty but needful. The health department is coming to get the body and it will be tested for rabies. That's what all this was about; killing the 'coon so it could be tested for rabies. The rabies test must be done of brain tissue and that means the death of the 'coon regardless.

Now, before you judge me, please consider a ground hog hole could cause the life of one of my horses or sheep. Should an animal step into a hole and break their leg, that means the animal has to be put down. Frankly, there's no consideration a ground hog is going to give their life and not one of my animals. As to the 'coon; he should have been doing what he does...at night. A nocturnal animal, wandering around during the day, almost always means something isn't quite right. I'm not chancing rabies, either myself or my dogs, and if that means the 'coons life...so be it. I try to be a good steward of what God has entrusted me and, last I looked, He's not entrusted me with 'coons or ground hogs. With the first breath, we're all terminal; it's just a matter of when and not if but I am sorry for the 'coon.

I need to go; I think I hear the health department truck.

Blessings ~ Sam ~ Abbie ~ Sadie ~

Rest in Peace,
Sandra

Sabbath Keeping

 ~ evening falls ~

"For I know that my Redeemer lives,

And He shall stand at last on the earth:

And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,

That in my flesh I shall see God,

Whom I shall see for myself,

And my eyes shall behold, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!

~ Job 19:25-27 ~

"Christianity begins where religion ends...with the resurrection." ~ Herbert Booth Smith ~

"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, 

not in books alone, 

but in every leaf in springtime." 

~ Martin Luther ~

"The cross is the victory, the resurrection is the triumph...The resurrection is the public display of the victory, the triumph of the crucified one." ~ Eric Sauer ~

"Easter says you can put truth in a grave but it won't stay there." ~ Clarence W. Hall ~

"Be thou comforted, little dog, 

Thou too in Resurrection shall have a little golden tail." 

~ Martin Luther ~

 "Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the resurrection."
~ Arthur Sfchopenhauer ~

If one does away with the fact of the Resurrection, 

one also does away with the Cross, 

for both stand and fall together, and one would

 then have to find a new center for the whole message of the gospel." 

~ Hans Urs von Balthasar ~

"Jesus took my place on the cross to give me a place in heaven." ~ every person ~

"...death was not Jesus' penalty; it was His destiny. It was not His lot in life; it was His mission. It was not His unavoidable fate; it was His purpose statement for coming to earth that first Christmas: 'Born to die.'" ~ Bill Crowder ~

"Men point to the sad incidents of human life on earth, and they ask, "Where is the love of God?" God points to that Cross as the unreserved manifestation of love so inconceivably infinite as to answer every challenge and silence all doubt for ever. And that Cross is not merely the public proof of what God has accomplished; it is the earnest of all that He has promised." ~ Sir Robert Anderson ~

"Our old history begins with the cross; 

our new history begins with the resurrection."

~ Watchman Nee ~

"The biggest fact about Joseph's tomb was that it wasn't a tomb at all - it was a room for a transient. Jesus just stopped there...on His way back to glory." ~ Herbert Booth Smith ~

"I am the resurrection and the life. 

He who believes in Me, 

though he may die, he shall live. 

And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.  

Do you believe this?" 

~ Jesus Christ, John 11:25, 26 ~

Prayer Keeping ~ Leslie ~ Becky ~ Rick ~Misha ~ J ~ Linda ~ Ryan ~ Roy ~ Tonya ~ Dave ~ me ~
 
to God be the Glory,
Sandra

Good Friday

 ~ Thistle Cove Farm flowers in bloom  ~

It's a rainy, warm Good Friday and I always think how fickle are crowds. It doesn't take much, does it, for a crowd to turn from jovial, joyful to murderous, mean. I also don't understand Good Friday? What's good about it? Oh, I understand Christ and the cross and how "God sent His only begotten son so that whoever believes on Him might have everlasting life" but I don't understand the name "Good" Friday. Good Sunday and Resurrection, yes, but "good" Friday...?

~ the sheep of "my" pasture ~

Thanks be to God for His ways which are not our ways neither are His thoughts our thoughts. I see a lot more clearly, in one sense, since I've become a shepherd. My flock is small but I count them daily, several times a day to make sure each is upright, doing well, happy, content. I cast my cares upon Him for He careth for me and He wants me to be well, happy and content in Him.

~ Sam P. Spade ~

Sam is ever watchful and is the first to raise alarm should something or someone be "not right" at the farm. He is ever alert and mindful of his duties and reminds me I should be the same. Having animals makes me a better Christian which is frightening for should I not have animals I'd be a far worse Christian. Being a sinner comes naturally; being a Saint is only through God's power.

This Resurrection Sabbath please take the day off; please, if at all possible, make the choice to observe the Sabbath by doing not much of anything. Do attend church services and, no, you don't need new finery. Do break bread with loved ones, do rest a spell on the porch, do spend time in reflection and calm, quiet activities. Perhaps, for a change, don't turn on the television or radio; don't listen to canned music, even religious music. Listen to the voice of God whispering through the trees, in the sounds of His creation. Let His peace wash over you, embrace you, prepare you.

Blessed Resurrection to you and yours; go in peace.

Blessings ~ His creation ~ today ~ Sabbath ~  Christ ~ the cross ~ the Resurrection~ ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

Pink Moon, Green Shawl

~ April's pink moon, through the branches ~

April's full moon is called the Pink Moon and it was beautiful. This photo isn't the best one I've ever taken but I love it anyway. Perhaps because it reminds me of the still quiet of early morning, a bit before sunrise...? The dogs and I were wandering in the yard and enjoying the presence of God. Birds were in full song, dogs were snuffling, horses were softly snorting...peaceful and serene and what a wonderful way to begin the day! 

The Farmer's Almanac says the April moon is called the Pink Moon because of the wild ground flox that grows this time of year. It's one of the earliest blooms and simply gorgeous! Other names are grass moon, fish moon and egg moon; the latter is, I'm guessing, because chickens begin laying well after not laying so well throughout the winter.

~ olive green shawl ~

Just off the knitting needles is my olive green shawl made in Lion Brand Organic Cotton. The color looks, both in the photo and in person, like a mustard but Lion Brand calls it "olive". Recently, while I was away, my hands wanted knitting. I'd taken embroidery to finish some pillow cases for a friend as well as another project, although I can't remember just now what, but my hands said, "knitting"; knitting and only knitting will do. So, I found a Joann's Fabric and bought some organic cotton yarn and made up my own pattern.

~ design element or design flaw? ~

The pattern is a simple one, instructions to follow, but I've got either a design element or design flaw on my hands. I'm not sure which. I think if I can't find one more skein of Lion Brand Yarn Art 480, color 174, lot 38342 Olive, it will be a design element. I wanted the fringe to go to the tip ends of the shawl but I ran out of yarn even though I used three 103 yard skeins... I still ran out of yarn. 

drats.

It's more of a shawlette than a shawl and meant to be worn close to the throat and pinned with a shawl pin. I like it and the color, believe it or not, looks good on me. My skin tone is sallow and I look best in autumn colors so pison green is my color -smile-. One of 'em at least. I'm amazed at how warm this shawlette is and realize I won't be wearing it much longer before it will have to be put away until autumn and cooler weather. That's okay, my hands have been happy for a few days and that's a good thing.

Vicki, of Simple Knits, has put together a terrific listing of knitted shawl patterns. A lot of the patterns are free so make time, please, to visit her. "My", and I use the word loosely as there's nothing new under the sun, pattern is a take on the old knitted dishcloth pattern.

Pison Green Shawlette

400 yards bulky cotton yarn - you choose color and brand and yes, increase skein by one  if you're using Lion Brand Organic Cotton as it comes in 103 years per skein.

Size 9 knitting needles

Cast on 3 stitches.

Knit* 2 stitches** into back of each stitch, Yarn Over***, Knit into back of each stitch to end of row

Pattern is

K* 2 sts** into back of each stitch, YO***, K into back of each stitch to end of row

I made my shawlette about 2 feet or a little more in width, across the top. Then I cast off, wove in all my ends and began cutting yarn twenty-four inch strips in length. I tried twelve inches in length but it looked puny; perhaps eighteen inches would have looked good but twenty-four looked lush so twenty-four inches it was. 

Use a crochet hook to attach the fringe to the edges of the shawlette. I suppose one could block but it's a roly poly bulky cotton and doesn't take well to blocking so just throw the sucka on and look beautiful!

Blessings ~ knitting ~ hands to knit ~ cotton yarn ~ pison green ~ shawlette ~ pink moon ~

Knit happy, 

Sandra

Tidbit Tuesday - Rag Wreath

 ~ stash fabric ~

WHOOPS! Liar, liar, pants on fire... remember that one from childhood? Since Dave's illness I've gotten a lot of practice saying, "I'm sorry." My brain works, sometimes, and the memory not at all, most of the time. When I said I'd found the rag rug wreath link at Retro Farm Wife, I well and truly thought I had. But, no. I had a good visit the the RFW but I found the link at Tammy's Recreating Grandma's House, her April 7, 2011 post. Tammy, many thanks for your comment here as that's what started the gray cells sparking; I'm sorry I neglected to give you credit firstly.

I finally spent some time in the studio but couldn't quite get my mind around a project. For a long while, perhaps a year, rain has been finding its way into the studio and every time I go out there, see the wet rug and floor, my heart sinks. It's silly, I know, there are far worse things than a wet floor but life is so crowded that any little thing just pulls me down. We've re-side the studio, the old ham house, and we've caulked and I don't know what to do next. I'm not sure if the rain is coming through, or near a window, which that's what it looks like or what, perxactly. Daniel is perplexed too and if Daniel is perplexed I shouldn't feel quite so bad -smile-. Around here, if Daniel can't fix it...it's well and truly broken.

I visited The Retro Farmwife and, on her sidebar, found a link to The Cottage Home and a tutorial for a Summer Fabric Rag Wreath. Please see Whoops, above.

~ fabric strips ~

That was just the ticket for a fun, quick project and all I had to do was pull out some fabric from the stash and get the heart shaped wreaths from the garden shed. Perfect! Please see Lindsay's blog for more concise directions as I see absolutely no need to reinvent the wheel. I'm sorta a git 'er done kinda gal and there's no way I'm going into the detail she went into. Some of my strips were cut into 12 inch lengths, others into 14 inch lengths and I didn't sweat the difference. Heck, some strips were even longer so I just wrapped them around the heart shaped wreath and then tied the knot. Come to think of it, not all of the fabric wasn't even used but I only remember hours after the fact.

~ heart shaped wreath ~

By the way, I only have a heart shaped wreath and not the circular wreath like Cottage Gal but I think it worked just as well.

 ~ studio wreath ~

So, here's the finished wreath and I do like it. It hangs atop my Spring Gal sent by Misha last year and add cheer and beauty to the studio door. Both make me smile every time I go by, or into, the studio. I've got two more wreaths and am pulling out the black and white fabric for one and, perhaps for Christmas, I'll use red and green fabric.

I liked this little project; it was fast enough to give me some instant gratification and, because of the fabric stash, colorful enough to add cheer and beauty. That's a win-win, don't you think?

Blessings ~ fabric stash ~ heart shaped wreath ~ Misha ~  spring ~ Lindsay ~

In beauty,
Sandra

 ~ Chef's Choice ~

So many bloggers have been delighted with CSN stores and I am no exception. Last autumn, they asked if I'd like a gift certificate so I could do a review on my blog.  You may remember, other events precluded virtually everything else in our lives and I didn't take CSN up on their kind offer. Last week, I sent them a note, explaining why I was derelict in my duties and they, quite graciously, said, "have another go".

Waffles are one of my favorite breakfast foods and I love making them from scratch. I chose the Chef's Choice International, in part, because it has round waffles and they always look nice and fit well on a round plate. My waffle iron has shipped and, as soon as possible after it arrives, I'm making waffles and showboating -smile- and then will let you know how it turns out.


Blessings ~ waffles ~ waffle irons ~ CSN ~ Kate at CSN ~

Yours in good eating,
Sandra

Sabbath Keeping

 ~ view from my window ~

"Train up a child in the way he should go; 

even when he is old he will not depart from it."

~ Proverbs 22:6 ~

"Your children need your presence more than your presents." ~ unknown ~ 

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.  
There are seven million."
~ Walt Streightiff ~

"Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven." 

~ Henry Ward Beecher ~ 

"Children are great imitators.
So give them something great to imitate."
~ unknown ~

 "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul 

than the way in which it treats its children."

~ Nelson Mandela ~

"Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see."
~ John W. Whitehead ~

 "Why is it that a child's death amounts to a tragedy, but the death of millions is merely a statistic?"
~ Patrick McDonald ~

"If you haven't time to respond to a tug at your pants leg, 

your schedule is too crowded."

~ Robert Brault ~

"Every child you encounter is a divine appointment." 

~ Wes Stafford ~

"The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child."  ~ Joe Houldsworth ~
"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."
~ Lady Bird Johnson ~

"While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about."
~ Angela Schwindt ~

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

~ Frederick Douglass ~

"If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry 

to reaching children for God!"

~ Dwight L. Moody ~

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. 

For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see

the face of my Father who is in heaven." 

~ Matthew 18:10 ~

If you'd like your name added to this Prayer Keeping list or my private list, please let me know and, please, don't hesitate to remind me, lest I forget.

Prayer Keeping ~ Becky ~ Rick ~Misha ~ J ~ Linda ~ Ryan ~ Roy ~ Tonya ~ Dave ~ me ~  


Thanks be to God,
Sandra

Appalachia's Life Blood

 ~ coal trains ~

If you're reading this on a computer that's operated by electricity, in a room that has an electric light bulb, please, thank a coal miner. 

It always amuses me when folks start in on coal miners and the mining industry. Generally, those whiny folks are using computers fired by electricity, living in houses fired by electricity, working in offices fired by electricity, driving cars manufactured by electricity...all of which are because of coal, well, you get the idea. 

Like all the gasoline stations that "proudly" state, "Ten percent ethanol added". 

Big Whoop.

What that translates into is more profits for the petroleum companies CEO's, Board members and shareholders and worse gasoline mileage for us. All ethanol does is s.t.r.e.t.c.h the gasoline, making it less mileage efficient so we get fewer miles per gallon of gas.

Okay, I'm not so good with the scientific jargon but I'm pretty good at counting and what I count best is money. We're spending more money and receiving less for it. 

So what's new?

If you know anything about Appalachia, you know we're coal country. A good portion of the Appalachian states have coal mines and coal miners. On Spike Television, from the same people who brought us Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers comes COAL. It was filmed about fifty miles from us, over the VA/WV state line, in the next county, McDowell, and we've been watching. I have a healthy respect for anyone who earns their money the old fashioned way, by sheer physical labor but especially coal miners. 

After all, I am a coal miner's daughter. Daddy's people came to the USA in the mid 1600's from the coal mines of the old country. I well remember Granddaddy coming home, black save the whites of his eyes and stripping off the layers of his coal dusted work clothes. Later, Uncle Clarence came home the same way and then Daddy. At some point, Daddy decided the coal miner's life wasn't the life for either he nor his family and he packed us up and moved us to Richmond. 

Coal is the lifeblood of Appalachia; at least, our part of Appalachia. It's one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, taking place in one of the darkest places in the world - middle earth. There is nothing, nothing, like the inside of a coal mine. This I know from listening to my menfolk, and others, talk of their job. It was always considered bad luck for a woman to enter a mine and, to this day, out of respect, I've never been inside of a mine. I have family members sealed in mines because there was an explosion and the mines caved in, leaving no way to get the miners out so they buried them.

Did you know canaries were the early warning system for methane or carbon monoxide gas? Miners carried canaries into the mines with them and if the bird died, the men knew to head for sunlight and the surface... fast! The last canary carried into an English mine just died from old age in the 1980's; he was one of the blessed ones.

COAL shows miners at their best and at their worst working for Cobalt Coal Company, a company traded in both the USA, CCCXF.PK, and in Canada, CBT-V. The show premiered in Premier, WV where some friends live and has been the biggest thing to happen to that community since the train laid tracks.

So, to repeat myself...if you've got mod cons like electricity, automobiles, trucks, public transportation; heck, virtually every part of our lives are because of COAL, thank a coal miner. It's a hard, tough, dirty job and I thank God for coal miners. Bless 'em, Lord, and please keep them safe. 

Watch the show and let me know what you think.

Blessings ~ God's resources ~ coal miners ~ trains ~ coal ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

April Spring...and Snow!

 ~ spring sights ~

How's it going with you? Are you in full bloom spring or, like us, getting ready for yet another April snow storm? Oh, more than likely, the April snow storm won't amount to much but the cold temps, high winds and pelleting snow will make it seem like a lot. My bulb garden will take a pounding but, hopefully, still be standing after the storm.

~ garden in late afternoon sunlight ~

The garden has been plowed, now disced and ready for the next step. Everything in preparation for the seeds that are soon to be sown in the greenhouse. Weather permitting, seeds will be sown this weekend and include vegetables, herbs and flowers. Blueberry bushes are ready to be put into the garden but after the ground has been given a good taste of coffee grounds and peat moss. Blueberry bushes need acidic soil and coffee grounds and peat moss are the quickest way to attain that goal.

 ~ Daniel, planting a sour red cherry tree ~

The garden lot is large enough for both garden and orchard so Daniel planted an apple tree, peach tree, a sour red cherry and a sweet black cherry tree for me. I'm taking the Virginia Master Gardner workshops and learning a lot...mainly what I've already done wrong...wry sigh...as well as what other folks have done to kill some of their plants, trees, shrubs, bushes, etc. Is it wrong of me to actually like hearing those sad tales? I can't help it; it makes me feel good knowing others have made the exact same mistakes as I and are still gardening. I think the VA Tech website is outdated but it still gives you a good idea of the program. If there are similar programs in your area, please do consider taking the classes and becoming a Master Gardner. It seems to me, these type programs are taking the place of the "ole timers" who used to pass along such information to folks who wanted to garden. Those "ole timers" are few and far between so now such information is gleaned from our agriculture colleges and universities. The International Master Gardner Conference is being held in Charleston, WV in October and promises to be a good learning experience.

~ plowed garden in late afternoon sun ~

Sam and Sadie are good helpers because they stay close yet out of the way while I'm working outside.

 ~ tag! ~

Recently I took a tree grafting class, courtesy of the Master Gardner program, and grafted half dozen apple trees and three pear trees. They are sitting in the cool, dark basement waiting for autumn and planting time. All the apple grafts are heritage apples and will be a welcome addition to my orchard.

Blessings ~ heritage apple trees ~ grafting ~ gardens ~ pear trees ~ blueberry bushes ~ flowers ~

Happy Spring,
Sandra

Sabbath Keeping

 ~ Dandy Man in the lead... ~

 "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, 

then how canst thou contend with horses?" 

~ Jeremiah 12:5 ~

"Faith is knowing there’s an ocean because you have seen a brook." ~ William Arthur Ward ~

"Faith can move mountains, 

but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel." 

~ Unknown ~

 "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."
  ~ Helen Keller ~

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all that I have not seen."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

 "Faith makes things possible, not easy." 

~ Unknown ~

"Feed your faith and your fears will starve." ~ unknown ~

"What I admire in Columbus is not his having discovered a new world but his having gone to search for it on the faith of an opinion." ~ A. Robert Turgot ~

"Faith sees the invisible, 

believes the unbelievable, 

and receives the impossible."

~ Corrie Ten Boom ~

"Most of us do not understand nuclear fission, but we accept it. I don’t understand television, but I accept it. I don’t understand radio, but every week my voice goes out around the world, and I accept it. Why is it so easy to accept all these man-made miracles and so difficult to accept the miracles of the Bible?" ~ Billy Graham ~
 

“Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” 

~ Hebrews 12:1-2 ~

If you'd like your name added to this Prayer Keeping list or my private list, please let me know and, please, don't hesitate to remind me, lest I forget.

Prayer Keeping ~ Misha ~ J ~ Linda ~ Ryan ~ Roy ~ Tonya ~ Dave ~ me ~ 
Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

A Box of Happy

 ~ chick chocs ~

Karen, at This Old House 2, sent A Box Of Happy when my name was randomly drawn. The box of Lindt chocolates are in my refrigerator so when I hope the door, their smiling, quirky faces greet me like a perfect day. Go ahead, I'm sure you've thought it...HEY! You looking at ME??? -smile-

 ~ more happiness ~

If there's one thing that instantly brings me happiness, it's bubbles. The above are Miracle Bubbles, no less and designed, so I think, to bring instant happy. The note cards have already been put to good use as has the Burt's Bees lip balm. My cuticles and my lips take a direct hit when I'm stressed and, right now, my face and hands look like the dogs have been gnawing on them. Sorry you had to read that but it's true. If I get any more stressed out, I'm going to pop a cog.

The insulated glass, with straw, is great! I keep a glass of water going all day long and it's ever so much more pleasant to drink from a pretty glass than an ugly glass. Karen, thank you; you've added joy to my "underfull" of joy day.

After being missing for a few days, I'm going to be missing for a few more days. Dave's cousin is coming and I'm headed to a hotel room to sleep, sleep, sleep. I'll have to take a bit of work with me, trying to catch up -haha- but the main purpose is to try and relax, de-stress and work/pray through the anxiety. I've been 24/7 since August and if I don't take a break, my body and/or mind will break and I don't want that. Dave is doing a tad better, thank God, and we're hoping he'll continue to improve; so now is the time to take care of me. Hopefully, you're taking care of you as well.

Blessings ~ Dave's cousin ~ sleep ~ a box of Happy ~ chocolate ~ Karen ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

Sabbath Keepingg,

 ~ foggy mountain road ~

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." 

~ Isaiah 55: 8-12 ~

 

 "God is subtle but He is not malicious." ~ Albert Einstein ~

 "Our Lord did not ask us to give up the things of earth, but to exchange them for better things."
~ Fulton J. Sheen ~

"The more we depend on God the more dependable we find He is." ~ Cliff Richard ~

"If God is your partner, make your plans BIG!" 

~ Dwight L. Moody ~

"God does not come to us in nicely defined, rationally explained, thought categories.  God does not fit Himself into our theological text books.  The Hebrew God breaks all the rules.  He is near, yet transcendent; clothed in human form, yet holy; more terrifying than can be imagined, yet compassionate; invisible, yet revealed; judging, yet merciful, sovereign, yet humble.  No matter where you look, God breaks the molds." ~ Skip Moen ~

"Man finds it hard to get what he wants, 

because he does not want the best. 

God finds it hard to give, 

because He would give the best and the man will not take it." 

~ George MacDonald ~ 

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love." ~ Thomas A Kempis~

"Most of us wait until we're in trouble, and then we pray like ens. Wonder what would happen if, some morning, we'd wake up and say, "Anything I can do for You today, Lord?" " ~ Burton Hillis ~

"Is your place a small place? Tend it with care; He set you there. Is your place a large place? Guard it with care! He set you there. Whate'er your place, it is Not yours alone, but his Who set you there."
~ John Oxenham ~

 "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: 

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 

~ I Corinthians 13:12 ~

If you'd like your name added to this Prayer Keeping list or my private list, please let me know and, please, don't hesitate to remind me, lest I forget.

Prayer Keeping ~ Misha ~ J ~ Linda ~ Ryan ~ Roy ~ Tonya ~ Dave ~ me ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

Tidbit Tuesday - Fun

 ~ simple pleasures ~

Do you remember making potholders as a child? Did you know you can still buy the small looms to make potholders? Granted, they are now plastic and not the metal of days gone by, but they are still easy to find and fun to make. I've never used them for potholders though, especially the nylon strips as they catch fire at a glance and are very dangerous, particularly around gas stoves. I prefer cotton strips.

~ a cloister of mug mats ~

I find enjoyment in the smallest of pleasures and making these little gifts gives me great pleasure. In the coming warmer months, they will be a colorful addition and add cheer to the table. A basket of simple pleasures that give the people gathered around the table a bit of fun as they remember their Vacation Bible School days and making potholders.

Good News - Dave is doing a tad bit better and, for the first time in weeks, is now able to go off oxygen for a couple of hours at a time. He still needs to gain weight, a lot of weight, but thank God for small victories.
Unfortunately, Sheep Shearing Day will be closed to the public this year as we're so overwhelmed with our new normal.

Blessings ~ mug mats ~ simple pleasures ~ Vacation Bible School ~ friends ~ tables full of joy ~ a new normal that's a step in the right direction ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

It's Spring!

 ~ spring snow storm ~

Know how I know? We had three inches of snow this morning -wry smile-.  There were errands to be done today but I've not left the farm. There are so many people who have to be on the roads, when it's bad weather, I tend to stay home and reduce the numbers by one. It's not a huge gift but it is a gift.

~ our valley, today ~

That beautiful blog header photo doesn't look so cheerful today. Today, it's snow, gray and cold, cold, cold. The dogs and I headed to the barn, well after we should have, and I took a few photos. Abbie still has vestibular disorder and probably will always have a bit of trouble. I'm giving her cod liver oil capsules, daily, in the hopes that will help. I know in humans, sometimes vertigo is helped by copious amounts of vitamin D; perhaps so in dogs as well. In my research and speaking to various people, I'm hearing some doctors are prescribing huge quantities of vitamin D for fibro and other auto-immune illnesses. Abbie is doing well though, she's able to go up and down stairs with only a tad bit of trouble. Doesn't matter, she's in great shape for a fourteen plus year old dog and I hope she's around for many more years.

~ Abigail Von Rotten The Terror ~

I'm quite sure the AKC would have hissy fits over the names our dogs have but, fortunately, the AKC doesn't get a vote. Abbie is quite happy with her name and it fits. Ginger snaps, does it ever fit!

~ the garden and orchard ~

Daniel got the garden plowed just in time! There are more apple trees and blueberry bushes to plant but will wait a few days and let the orchard area dry out a bit. I'm in process of determining which vegs to grow and will have a few varieties of tomatoes -yes, technically a fruit-, squash -summer and winter-, parsnips, potatoes, cukes, beans, watermelons, pumpkins, gourds and they all go in this area. I've a smaller, kitchen herb garden along with a dyer's garden and a medicinal herb garden. I must admit, I'm thinking of letting the dyer's and medicinal herb gardens go by the wayside this year and focus on food. I'm going to plant a lot of flowers to be cut for both the house and to sell at market. Well, maybe not sell at market but certainly for the house, porches and studio.

When the weather clears up, Daniel is taking me up on the mountain to gather branch lettuce, also called creek lettuce. It's a watercress and has that nice, peppery bite that makes it so lovely.

 ~ Six Hour Quilt ~

 This is a quilt pattern by Kaye Wood called Six Hour Quilt and it's shaping up nicely. Must say though, it's definitely not a six hour quilt. Probably an experienced quilter could make it in six hours but not me; I've been working on this sucker for about seven hours and it's not close to being finished. But it will be pretty, I think, when it is finished. The next two rows will be the brown, then more of the floral, more brown, another row of floral and then a brown border. I think.

~ Japanese Cherry in bud ~

There are a few things in bud around here, including the Japanese Cherry. My heart breaks for those folks in Japan and I applaud them for the courageous manner in which they are banding together and marshalling their forces. There's no looting, no rioting only a deep sense of dignity and family and of helping each other through this terrible time. I'm so proud of our American forces; they are Right There, helping to re-build and render assistance in whatever way they can. Could it be the idea of family is what makes the difference in how the Japanese people have responded? I think so.

Blessings ~ family ~ snow ~ dignity ~ helping hands ~ gardens ~ quilting ~ my dogs ~ 

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

Sabbath Keeping

 ~ birds of the air ~

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." 

~ Isaiah 55: 8-12 ~

"Every man is a fool for at least five minutes every day;
wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit."
~ Elbert Hubbard ~

"Action expresses priorities." ~ unknown ~

"Wise men speak because they have something to say; 

Fools because they have to say something." 

~ Plato ~

"Patience is the companion of wisdom." 

~ St. Augustine ~

"Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk." ~Doug Larson ~ 


"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life." ~ Sandra Carey ~ 


"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, "Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.'" ~ Charles M. Schultz ~

"I know what I have given you. 

I do not know what you have received." 

~ Antonio Porchia ~

"The highest form of wisdom is kindness." ~ The Talmud ~

"The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"He who devotes sixteen hours a day to hard study may become at sixty as wise as he thought himself at twenty."  ~ Mary Wilson Little ~

"When I can look Life in the eyes,
Grown calm and very coldly wise,
Life will have given me the Truth,
And taken in exchange - my youth."
~ Sara Teasdale ~

"A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top."
~ Proverb ~


"Some folks are wise and some are otherwise."  ~ Tobias Smollett ~

"The child, offered the mother's breast,
Will not in the beginning grab it;
But soon it clings to it with zest.
And thus at wisdom's copious breasts
You'll drink each day with greater zest."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~

"The well bred contradict other people. The wise contradict themselves."  
~ Oscar Wilde ~

"Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers."  

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson ~

 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, 

that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; 

and it shall be given him." 

~ James 1:5 ~

If you'd like your name added to this Prayer Keeping list or my private list, please let me know and, please, don't hesitate to remind me, lest I forget.

Prayer Keeping ~  Misha ~ J ~ Linda ~ Ryan ~ Roy ~ Tonya ~ Dave ~ me ~
Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

"Untie the Ribbons"

 ~ Daffodils herald spring ~

Doesn't that title just make your heart zing with anticipation? Untie the Ribbons is Jill's blog and it's a great visit. Jill and I met via the One World One Heart tour a couple of years ago; can't really remember when but we began following each other. Every time I visit Untie the Ribbons, I just know it's going to be something wonderful and the anticipation is enough to make me visit again and again and...

A short while back, Jill had a gift-away and the lucky winner received one of Jill's hand crafted wool boxes. Ummmm UM! Mighty fine and the rest of us were green with envy. I even left Jill a note telling her I'd be happy to step up to the plate should her winner not be reachable. I might have even mentioned how green with envy I happened to be over her work. Jill has a big heart and contacted me to say, "want a little something?" DID I EVER?! I'm a pretty fast typist but I could hardly get out a YES, PLEASE fast enough!

~ a love envelope ~

This is what she sent. I bet you're green with envy now, eh? You can tell me, it's okay. This lovely creation is a wool envelope that has little square of paper upon which I'm to write my worries to God, tuck them into the envelope, turn them over to God and let Him deal with my worries. "Cast your cares upon Him for He careth for you." I love this! I love the work of Jill's heart and hands, the sentiment, the absolutely beautiful , creative way of putting into practice such Godly advice.

 ~ this reminds me of the star fish story ~

Jill, thank you, thank you, thankyou! You're the best and this is a fabulous gift and idea. I want to use this idea, may I, please? How wonderful to pass along something so special to someone who is going through difficulties. That's just about all of us, isn't it? Jill, how kind of you to lift me up. God's blessings upon you, yours and the work of your hands and heart. Bless you!

Blessings ~ Jill ~ prayer ~ star fish story ~ daffodils ~ God ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

Sabbath Keeping

 ~ spring "worm" moon ~

"There is a time for everything, 

and a season for every activity under the heavens..."

~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 ~

"It's spring fever... You don't quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache,you want it so!" ~ Mark Twain ~

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; 

the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. 

From the ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; 

renewed shall be blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king."

~ J. R. R. Tolkien ~

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring."
~ Bern Williams ~

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." 
~ Doug Larson ~

"If there comes a little thaw,

Still the air is chill and raw,

Here and there a patch of snow,

Dirtier than the ground below,

Dribbles down a marshy flood;

Ankle-deep you stick in mud.

In the meadows while you sing,

This is Spring."

~ Christopher Pearce Cranch ~

"A little madness in the Spring is wholesome even for the King." ~ Emily Dickinson ~

"Winter is on my head but eternal Spring is in my heart." 

~ Victor Hugo ~

"Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." 

~ Margaret Atwood ~

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn."  ~ Hal Borland ~

"In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish'd dove; In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love." ~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson ~

 "For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; 

The flowers appear on the earth; 

the time of the singing of birds is come, 

and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, 

and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell." 

~ Song of Solomon 2:11-13 ~

 
If you'd like your name added to this Prayer Keeping list or my private list, please let me know. Please, don't hesitate to remind me, lest I forget.

Prayer Keeping ~  Linda ~ Ryan ~ Roy ~ Tonya ~ Dave ~ me ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra

Road Perils

 ~ tree down ~

For a good part of the way out of the Cove, it's two lane, unmarked, roads. This road, Pounding Mill Road, is marked and, as you can see, driving is hampered by a tree across the road. This is the shortest way home, the next shortest way means turning around...difficult to do on a road this narrow...heading back to Rt. 460 and then turning east to head to Tazewell town and then home or, turning west, and going on a narrower, unmarked, dirt road. It's just as likely, perhaps more so, trees would be across the dirt road as well. Hmmm.

~ mission accomplished! ~

It was easier to get out in the pouring rain and help break up, then move the tree just enough so one lane of traffic was clear. See the oncoming car? The driver wanted to stop, waaaaay back, but I motioned the driver to come closer. As soon as the automobile was close enough for me to talk to the driver, I saw it was a woman and asked, "Do you have a man in that car with you?" She looked startled and said, "nooooo...?" I told her, "well, you'll have to do. We need to move this tree so we can all get to where we're going." Startled is not the adjective I'd use for the look on her face this time -grin- but she jumped out of her car, ready to assist. The two men in the car ahead of me, that woman and myself broke up the tree enough so we could pull it out of one lane of road. As we're readying to break up the tree, one of the men looked at me and said, "So, Cove Gal, how's Dave doing?" I must have looked as startled as the other woman! "Gaining strength but it's slow going and daily", I told him. He laughed and said, "Mr. Harrison is in the car and we'd heard the news." He and Mr. Harrison are the gents who keep our furnace and heating system in working order; it was nice to work alongside folks I know.

 ~ uh oh ~

On the other side of this mountain, this tractor trailer driver found out dispatch doesn't always know best. I felt sorry for him. Cell phone coverage is spotty, at best, and in the short time I was there, his phone connection broke several times. To say he was exasperated is putting it mildly. Eventually, within three hours, a tow truck came and rescued him but he and dispatch were having trouble communicating. The driver asked me, "what's the nearest town?" Now, that's a trick question. Around here, towns are few and far between but we do have plenty of wide spots. I told him, "tell your dispatcher you're about four miles from the Pounding Mill WalMart." The guy looked at me like I'd struck crazy. "Pounding Mill?" But, he told her and her response was about the same. I just grinned and left them to it; I can only offer help, can't make them take it. The truck was, probably, in okay shape; it looked like he'd driven onto the soft shoulder and it gave way. Good thing it was on the ditch side of the road and not the cliff side.

 ~ dear ole Abbie ~

Beloved Abbie, like so many most at Thistle Cove Farm, has some years on her. As a foundling, she came here in 1998 and was full grown then so she's upwards of fourteen years. That's close to 100 in our years and she's beginning to slow, just a tad. I thought she'd had a stroke but, after taking her to a vet who specializes in Jack Russell's, I found Abbie didn't have a stroke but rather vestibular disorder. Nasty stuff that and means she suffers from having her world dizzy and imbalanced. She tells me when she needs to go up or down steps and I have to make sure not to disorient her. The two times I have turned her too quickly, she has to lay on the floor and flip 360 degrees to right her inner ear and restore balance to her world. It's painful to watch and I can only imagine the disorientation inside her little head and body.

She's eating well and moving nicely; was able to chase a rabbit yesterday and in a, fairly, straight line. She's on pain meds, to help her sleep and cope, and on antibiotics as, sometimes, they seem to help. Dr. Peggy, the vet, also suffers from vestibular disorder and was quite sympathetic; she even called this morning at 8 a.m. to see how Abbie is faring.

 ~ Sam, either licking his chops or warming his nose ~

Sam went to the vet also and he has a very nasty ear infection. I've been trying to clear up this ear infection for a very long time; hopefully, we've got the right mix of meds to get the job done this time.

~ double rainbow ~

Can you see the double rainbow? Dolly Parton said, "if you want to see the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain." She's right, you know. For two weeks, or more, it's either rained or snowed each and every day. Lawz! but I am glad to see the rainbows!

Our GP, God bless Dr. Steve!, called after 8 p.m. tonight. He wanted to let us know he'd already received the results of the CT scan Dave had earlier today. The tumor has shrunk a bit more and we'll take it. Yes, Lord, we'd still like that miracle of full recovery please, but, in the meantime, we'll take this small victory and thank you, Lord, thank you so very much.

Here's hoping rainbows for you as well. Rainbows and unexpected gifts.

Blessings ~ rainbows ~ Dr. Steve ~ Dr. Peggy ~ helping hands ~ Dave ~ Sam ~ grace ~

Soli Deo Gloria,
Sandra