into art now

burned out on making Mittens

made about 50 pair this past year...for cold kids in Romania.
This week and last, I've been making crib quilts for cold babies there...(or anywhere they're needed).

 

Proverbs 31:20

"She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy."

Reading Alfred Eidersheim

He has several books, this one THE TEMPLE-ITS OFFERINGS AND CUSTOMS.

It gets my imagination working.
Imagine awe struck pilgrims in O.T. times coming into Jerusalem to celebrate festivals...some never seeing the city before.  Many never far from their nomadic dwellings, surrounded by more animals than humans in their home setting.

 

They're seeing grand buildings, streets and alleys, brightly colored garments.

Overwhelming compared to their accustomed TAN:

deserts, animals, dwellngs...

To see hundreds of water vessels in one place after living with scarce water sources.  Seeing market stalls piled high with fruits and vegetables, whole sides of meat hanging...already caught, skinned, cleaned.

Can you imagine with me the amazing sights one might see rarely, even only once in his lifetime, if that? 

I am thankful that our God reveals Himself to me dozens of times a day in many personal ways...right here where I dwell.

 

This looks like a 'quarterly blog'

Because it's been three months since last post.  I'm sorry if you've missed me, but I'll mention what's been going on in my life
Since last time:

raised tomatoes from seed, planted them in garden, am seeing blossoms now.
planted hundreds of flower seeds all over the yard.  Some are up a few inches now.
created dozens more mittens from old woolen sweaters (see photo)
   when I went to Romania last year I brought about 24 pair...have that many more now
am taking some art classes in local Art Center
today ordered more batting for quilts for cold babies  my ministry is crib quilts and mittens for poor kiddies
knitted about a dozen hats, bonnets for infants in Romania

read millions of words (it seems to me) in books on Kindle reader
..........and still doing Bible study most days.
           WHEW! 
photos below of tomatoes ready to plant, mittens, quilts

frog days

teach us to pray-Luke 11

C-c-c-old!

 

Icy AND cold!  But, it's winter; what can I expect?  Just to cheer me up, I ordered a big order of flower seeds last week.  I love this photo and would like to have this in our yard someday (only in my dreams?).




from Annie's Annuals

I have a new constant companion:  my iPad.  Life is different with it...it's more than like; I love it.
The first book I downloaded was a new best seller entitled Burial Rites.  Today I ordered The Far Traveler.  Both are historical fiction, well researched.


Kent's book is about the first woman sentenced and executed for killing another.  The role of women and the life of this woman reveals life in early Iceland. Exploring the final months of an Icelander maid charged with murder and condemned to execution in 1829.  I found it beautifully written and well researched.
The Brown book is about the sister-in-law of Leif the Red who sailed to the new world 500 years before Columbus.  She lived there three years, gave birth to a baby, before going back. This, also, is about Iceland.  I like to learn about other cultures and know little about the Vikings.

I share these with you because I first heard of them in another's blog.  Neither of these were in my local library, so I purchased them.  Also, I've been known to re-read a book or two.

I learned long ago that God gave the gift of languages, books, printing so we might be equipped to read His Word...what a gift to also be able to read other books and learn even more.  He has given us those who wrote the scriptures and preserved them for us, and He has given gifted writers today who inform, inspire, encourage us to learn even more.  I thank Him today for the gift of words and understanding.

 

Got a bit of winter

There is a 'monster' winter storm menacing much of the eastern half of the U.S.  We got a little, mostly cold, b-r-r-r.  I haven't been out of the house for several days and couldn't today, if I wished.  The car is frozen shut!  Can you see the ice on windows?

I'm thankful the 'upstairs family' got home safely last night from skiing in W.V.  A blizzard in the mountains isn't my idea of fun!

inquire

Favor

Christmas in the South

I spent Christmas at daughter #2 south of New Orleans.  Came home one month ago tomorrow (eve of New Year's eve).  She collects angels and brings them all out at Christmas time.

 My friends call me a tornado magnet after a killer tornado flew over us, killing 4 in a town nearby...and I was in one in N. Iowa in June.

My daughter is a super hostess and loves to entertain.  My time was much more fun than I'd have by myself.  She's a great cook; I tasted sea creatures cooked creatively, rich desserts, good coffee. 

 
It was harvest time of sugar cane; I visited one of their 'above-ground' cemetaries and bayous, saw brackish water...all these new to me.

I was able to visit her church with her , sew a wardrobe for her dog Ruby:

 

I'll share more another time.  Stay warm..."and Mama in her kerchief and me in my cap......ready for a long winter's nap."

 

 

 

Slower than...._________(fill in the blank)

Happy New Year!  (only 1 month late)
You would think I've just been too busy to post...NOT!  Been painting woodwork, watching 'Doc Martin' series over and over, reading, reading, reading.  I love retirement:

 

Apparently my memory is 'retiring' too, as I enjoy whatever I watch or read as much each time I give it my attention.  My kids have mentioned it lately (as I recall).

 

I don't plan on 'retiring' this blog...so stay tuned.  I'm working on another entry.