current weaving project

my current weaving project is a pillow for my mother. as i'm having trouble uploading pictures to this blog, i'll try to post links to the colors i'm using for both warp and weft. my warp colors are three shades of 'maroon', found here, here and here. my weft color is here (top row, far right, 'raspberry'). i used two different sizes of warp yarns, 8/4 and 5/2. my weft yarn is 2/4 and is quite thick, making for faster weaving (especially as i'm using plain weave). i hope to get this project off the loom, stuffed and sewn very soon so i can mail it out.

my morning in pictures

snippets of my morning in pictures...

one of my kitchen windows this morning completely frosted with ice on the inside...thankfully, our water didn't freeze, too...

the temperature around 10:30 this morning; this was six degrees warmer than when i got up...

i took seven pictures of this feathery fellow from the coziness of my livingroom; he perched in our privet for severl minutes, as if posing for me on purpose!

adventures in homemaking--thrift store decore

in the past two days, my beloved and i have visited two different towns and three thrift stores! the adventure began wednesday, when i announced i had a doctor's appointment in the small town 30 minutes to our west. becaus of the travel time, we decided to take the afternoon and go to two thrift stores there we have been wanting to visit. although i was still not feeling my best, we went to both and took our time looking around.



the first store had a good selection of furniture and building supplies and some other odds-n-ends. i found a lovely (from my point of view) sturdy chair that works well in our bedroom. it's nice to have a comfortable chair in the bedroom to use for putting on one's shoes or even just sitting and reading/knitting and having a cup of hot tea.

the second store had lots of clothes, but all we found was some fabric swatches i can use to weave rugs with. yesterday, we traveled to the big town 30 minutes to our east for another appointment. after that was done, we went to a larger thrift store and found severl things: a bamboo tray to use in the livingroom for drinks; an old painting that looks nice hung up by the floor lamp; a food press; two pairs of pants for my beloved; and an old tin recipie box from the 40s or 50s. all in all, lovely finds for low prices!

photo: the thrift store chair

adventures in homemaking--baking cookies

i baked about two dozen pumpkin chocolate chip cookies yesterday. of course, i had to modify the original recipie; instead of using a pre-spiced can of pumpkin pie filling, i used just plain canned pumpkin and added 2 3/4 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice. i added an extra teaspoon of the spice because the chocolate can overpower the pumpkin flavor. here is a picture of the cookies cooling.

here is my photo of the recipie. notice my lovely recipie cards! :)

here is the photo of the cookie batter; notice how orange it is. the batter is in my favorite mixing bowl.

i'm enjoying learning how to post pictures to this blog, so bear with me as i learn! i hope everyone has a wonderful Preparation Day for the Sabbath tomorrow!

a new year

happy new year to everyone!

we passed new year's eve and day with family and had a wonderful time cooking, playing games and visiting together. it is good to be able to offer hospitality and to give of one's self. i find that each time i'm able to do so i enjoy it more and more.

today is a rainy day and we are hopeful that the groundwater and rivers/lakes will be more replenished with this rain. i also hope that the rain will make a difference with the garden this year. last year it was difficult because of excess heat and not enough rain. we were on water restrictions and did our best to water the plants sparingly. evenso, we had a fairly good harvest, all things considered.

i leave with some of my favorite verses:

"...But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing."
1st Thessalonians 4:10b-12

hospitality

this past week, we had the privilege of showing hospitality to my father-in-law. he was in need of a mini-vacation of sorts; for some time to relax in a peaceful setting.

i must admit i was hesitant at extending an invitation, especially an open one. our cottage is so very small, with only one bedroom and one bathroom. it can also be very cold in the winter in the rooms furthest from the heater, with ice forming on the inside of the windows over night despite our best attempts to insulate them. also, my FIL brought his young boxer and we have two dog-phobic cats. so perhaps one can imagine what a slight panic i felt at this visit, even while knowing in my heart and soul that showing hospitality is a calling of the Christian life.

so what did we do? we opened our home, small and chilly as it is, up to my dear FIL (and his boxer!). the cats stayed in the bedroom, door shut and small ceramic heater running, for the visit's duration. dear FIL slept on our guest futon in front of the monitor heater, with his boxer curled next to him on an old(er) blanket. we ate simple meals, at the table, and gave thanks for the what the LORD had provided. we spent time talking about all manner of things. i learned that upkeep of even a small house takes a large amount of energy when company is staying over. most evenings after cleaning the kitchen, i was so tired that i didn't have the energy to worry about the next day's activities, cleaning jobs, or meals. and all-in-all, i found that the LORD blessed me greatly by allowing me to be a blessing.

even in the midst of our little, the LORD can use it to accomplish much.

Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"
And they said, "Seven, and a few fish."
So He commanded the mulitude to sit down on the ground.
So they all ate, and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left.
Matthew 15:34-35, 37 NKJV

Thanksgiving

I want to share a prayer and a poem, both realated to Thanksgiving.

Most Richly Blest
I asked You, GOD, for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey;
I asked for health that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity that I might do better things;
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise;
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of GOD;
I got nothing that I asked for,
But everything I hoped for;
I am among all men most ricly blest.
*found in the pocket of an unknown Confederate soldier after the battle of Gettysburg, from The Crossings Treasury of American Prayers

The New England Boy's Thanksgiving Song
Over the river, and through the wood,
To grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way,
To carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood--
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes,
And bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring,
"Ting-a-ling-ding!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river and through the wood
Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground
Like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river and through the wood,
And straight through the barn-yard gate.
We seem to go
Extremely slow--
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the wood--
Now grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880)