A good day :)

Thank you everyone for your anniversary greetings - we have had a good day.

We cancelled the day out as my cold has made my asthma bad and Steve is still a bit under the weather too.

We did go to Hobbycraft, though, to buy picture frames for our new pictures.


My Martha and Mary buy from Allposters.com .......



And one of Steve's paintings.........



We didn't feel too guilty at this expense because we had not bought each other presents or cards - but got the frames instead.

And the post bought this beautiful gift from Tina - from Cinnamon Whirls - thank you!




Life has been a bit tough lately as I have had some family issues to deal with (thankfully not my hubby or sons) but very difficult times nonetheless. It is good to find that even in dark days God sends periods of light; special times when family and friends offer love and friendship that can heal all hurts.

Happy weekend, dear bloggy friends.

L.x.

An alien short of a space drama.........

............is how I find myself this evening.

My lovely friend, who was going to be the friendly alien who helps the heroes in the church holiday club drama, now finds herself packing her bags to go & help her sick Mother in London. So I am praying for her like crazy - have just dropped a prayer card through her door.

It's been a busy day -a whirlwind of tidying, laundry, tons of errands, rehearsals ......... oh and still sneezy - maybe we should do a new version of Snow White - I could be Sneezy, Sleepy and Dopey all by myself - lol!

God is good - in spite all the rush I remain reposed :)

This vignette looks very calming doesn't it?

A quiet corner in my home :) I noticed it this morning and just had to take a piccy.

I have started a re-read of the Old Testament - I just love the Bible - open its cover and you have faith, history, teaching, and in many places a good action packed story :) The Old Testament can be quite harsh & even gory in places, but I am enjoying my re-read.

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary and so Mr. C has booked the day off - yay!!!!!!!!! We are planning a day out - I just love a jolly. On Saturday , my nephew arrives from the US - we have to be at the airport at 7am - gulp! Whilst he rests in the afternoon I shall be helping to set up holiday club.

Life is hectic but happy - maybe I was right thinking that now is the time to get back into the world :)

Hope you are all ok.

Love to all,

L.x.

My husband is generous with his time, laughs, money and his love and ......... apparently ....... his germs - I'm sneezing like mad :)

I am almost done with my prep for holiday club (are you sick of me mentioning it - I am! I love reading about other people's holiday club but my own makes me stressy - lol!)

So this afternoon I found some spare time - just for me! ME!!

So I crafted of course.........

Happy Wednesday!

Vintage style fabric finds.........................




......... ready to start stocking the shop.........

......................yummy :)

(Grandma's blessing by Morrell at Allposters.com)

"Not having much wealth was never a problem for grandma. Her philosophy was soap and water are cheap, creativity can make something from nothing, so laugh a little, sing a lot, and never take your teeth out in public"

(from Everyone's a Homemaker by Beverly Nye)

Monday's moments......

It's been a pic 'n' mix kinda Monday. Laundry done but little else :(



I had a chat with my vicar about my work with the church - my gifts ??????? yeah right we'll skip that bit then - lol!



A drama rehearsal for the holiday club play sketch - oh dear, oh dear - I'm sure "it'll be alright on the night" - lol!!



I finally got my holiday club blast off rocket to blast off - a frothing explosion of alka seltzer sends the rocket rocketing but I had to work out how to get the mix right to get optimal lift off - success - I sent the vicar's wife an email entitled "Houston - we have lift off" and sighs all round that it finally works. The mini explosions had to take place in the garden as it's a bit messy - so my neighbours now either think I am a complete loony or that I am of terrorist stock with my own bomb factory. If I am on "News at 10" please speak up for me, won't you :)



I also did some holiday club planning and prepping yet more craft resources.



Supper was home-made cottage pie, salad and tomato flatbread with a bowl full of strawberries and grapes as a centrepiece and wolfed down as pudding. Lots of fun & laughter round the dinner table which is always good :)



And this evening I ditched all holiday club "gotta makes" and made this "wanna make" for the shop............

......... more cupcake bliss!

A certain somebody kept himself and his lovely (?) wife awake last night with his hacking cough doing barking dog impressions so I am hoping we get some sleep tonight - poor thing!


Hope you are all hale & hearty.


L.x.

Snippets of my Sunday

It's been a good Sunday.

Had a great time at church this morning. Then picked up some veg for tonight's supper - lamb roast & all the trimmings.

Steve stayed home - we had two new baby thanksgivings and a baptism and we thought it best he stayed away - he is coughing and sneezing and there were newborns there - one just 12 days old :)

I brought him bacon and eggs & strong tea in bed which must have done the trick cos I got home to find that he had updated all the church accounts (thank you, thank you, thank you!) and painted this........




Isn't it lovely - am going to frame and find a nice home for it this week - downstairs bathroom or kitchen - not sure yet.

He continued to splutter & sneeze so we stayed home and read. I read this...............

............ am enjoying it very much - Bible passages to study each week plus some good tips.

So where did the weekend go?

Loads of prayers going to Angela and everyone else "doing" church holiday clubs this week :)

God bless,

L.x.

strawberry cream teas and cup cakes.

(Tea and strawberries by Barbara Mock - on Allposters.com)





It's been a sunny day and the washing is drying and all's well in my little bit of the world:)




And I hope it is for you too.


This afternoon we went to a strawberry cream tea at my church. All the tables were set with blue and white gingham cloths, the china was blue and white. All the waitresses were in traditional white aprons. The food was delicious and the tea; good and strong. We had such a nice time. There was also a painting exhibition - I was so pleased that Stephen's picture was given pride of place :) All the pictures were displayed at the altar, it looked so very beautiful as usual and wonderfully peaceful.



I got this from the book stall........








We walked home along the canal, stopping to watch all the birds in the hedgerows.



Steve has a head cold so we came home and rested, watching Poirot on telly and I finished the latest in my cupcake craze......................

......... a cupcake needle case, of course! Destined for the shop - maybe - lol!

So this evening I am reading, sipping a glass of wine, and crafting.


Happy Saturday, friends!

It's crafting, Jim, but not as we know it!

I love crafting - but making rockets etc for holiday club doesn't really do it for me - lol!



I needed some girly crafting so I blasted those rockets into outer space for the evening and did this....................








A flower pot pin cushion destined for my etsy shop if I can bear to let it go or for my sewing shelf if I can't - lol!!

Friday Fun

It 's been a nice day - girly shopping with my US niece, who is visiting, my Mom & Steve's Mom.

On the way home I wandered around the craft shop planning and scheming :)



Then I did some light housework and found myself humming a hymn, long forgotten, which we used to sing at school. I could only remember odd snatches of the lyrics so I looked it up on the 'net and it all came flooding back.






Thank you for giving me this morning


1. Thank you for giving me this morning.
Thank you for every day that’s new.
Thank you that I can know my worries
can be cast on you.

2. Thank you for all my friends and brothers.
Thank you for all the men that live.
Thank you for even greatest enemies
I can forgive.

3. Thank you, I have my occupation.
Thank you for every pleasure small.
Thank you for music, light and gladness.
Thank you for them all.

4. Thank you for many little sorrows.
Thank you for every kindly word.
Thank you for everywhere your guidance
reaches every land.

5. Thank you, I see your Word has meaning.
Thank you, I know your Spirit here.
Thank you because you love all people,
those both far and near.

6, Thank you, O Lord, you spoke unto us.
Thank you that for our words you care.
Thank you, O Lord, you came among us,
bread and wine to share.

7. Thank you, O Lord, your love is boundless.
Thank you that I am full of you.
Thank you, you made me feel so glad and
thankful as I do.



And I was looking at Allposters.com and found this............




Sisters of the Faith by David Lindsley


Presumably Mary & Martha.

I couldn't resist buying the smallest print - it will go in my kitchen - reminding me to keep Jesus with me as I work through my day.


Hope you are all well :)


L.x.

Garlands are for life not just for Christmas - lol!

Mmmmmmmmmmm.........

..........now there's a challenge............................






ROFL !

Last night I was tucked up in my bed and fast asleep by 8:30PM - isn't that terrible?

I have slept for nearly 12 hours and do feel much better.

After the church holiday club in a few weeks time I may have to have a re-think; maybe I have tried to take on too much too soon.

Anyhows, today is a new day and there is much to do. I have a little finishing up to do on my housework catch up. I also have some catching up with my hubby and kids to do - I was a grouch at suppertime and then fell asleep so I must make it up to them. I had planned to make a lovely steak pie but I left the defrosting meat on the kitchen work top - I daren't cook that now as it is horrible and warm - what a waste - so I was nasty, sleepy and wasteful :(

I shall get some more and forge ahead with steak pie plans and thank the good Lord that my family love me even when I am nasty, sleepy and wasteful :)

So ~sigh~ that was another day when our Father looked down upon me tut tutting, shaking his head and sighing! I have much to make up for today!

Happy Thursday, friends!

You dancing? You asking? I'm asking! I'm dancing!

Ok so I have lived a weird life in recent years :)



It is not so long ago ( maybe 3 years?)that I was working several jobs amounting to maybe 60 hours a week. One of those jobs; an HLTA assessor and trainer meant that I was travelling a lot too. Not surprisingly, I then had loads of minor illness stuff and I decided enough was enough.



So as I said to a couple of friends lately - I sat out of a few of life's dances.
But your feet just keep on tapping to the beat, don't they? It's now time to step back onto the dance floor and step back out into the world.



The break has done me good and I am getting well again but I do not feel reliable enough to take on permanent paid work so I am doing more voluntary work with my church. We have also had several house guests and lots of social events to attend and charity events to contribute to. This is good news for me as I had become a little agorophobic.



This past few weeks I have felt so tired yet I am working a fraction of the hours I used to and I am ashamed to say my housework is getting a bit behind. So today I have just steadily pottered away and I feel I am getting back on track.



I know I am the saddest woman ever but a new apron has really cheered me into catching up!





Some ladies needing some TLC will opt for flowers, a manicure, chocolate etc. Me? An apron will do it every time - lol!!


So now I am dancing again and praying like crazy to "The Lord of the Dance" that my strength and stamina hold out:)


Happy Wednesday.

Christian writing

I know that the Christian writing we should be reading is, of course, the Bible. And of course I return to that time and time again - each day.

But.......... I also love to read study guides - Elisabeth George, is my favourite.

I have also enjoyed some Christian fiction - The Honor Girl by Grace Livingstone Hill & The Shack.

I enjoyed these books because they gave me a view of the authors' faith and perspective. I know they are not scriptural and must be read with discernment but I enjoyed reading these books.

I can never really understand when people warn you against reading an obviously Christian fiction book when there are far worse books to read by non Christian authors. I know that really they are warning you against substituting the fiction for The Word.



Anyhows, this week I have been blown away by this book - I just could not put it down...........



I didn't realise, until I turned the cover, that the authoress Isabella Macdonald Alden was the aunt of Grace Livingstone Hill. (Sorry I don't like this new fangled thing of calling the author the author regardless of gender!! I am so old fashioned!!)

Anyway, the book's heroine Louise, a Christian, goes to live in a household of non Christians and the story unfolds about how she works to turn these people to God. Published in 1880 the language was different and I had to re-read some bits to fully understand but then I am a bit thick - lol!

Home and home-making is afforded great importance in this book so will not be enjoyed by the home-making faint-hearted! But you know I am an old fashioned girl at heart!!

I so enjoyed this book. It was one of those books which you don't want to put down but at the same time you dread finishing it!

I learnt a lot about my Christian faith and my faith journey from this book. I learnt more about developing spiritual stamina. I saw my Christian goals being affirmed in this book and also saw a way of handling doubts and days of weakness that all Christians, I am sure, (unless very fortunate) must surely experience.

Several times, during my reading I was moved to put the book down, go on bended knee and pray. Few of my prayers are stumbled through on my knees so you can figure just how moved I was - lol!

I know, at the end of the day this is "just" fiction. But it is beautifully written by a woman who appeared to uphold good Christian values and I am ready for a re-read!

But my Bible is still the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Happiness is home-made"

Jenny @ http://littlejennywren.blogspot.com/ has written a brilliant series lately about the ideal home-maker, taken from the book : The Art of Home-making by Daryl Hoole.

I really wanted to read the book myself but it was way too expensive - even secondhand - but I did manage to get this one very cheaply.............









It arrived yesterday and I spent the day reading it - I so enjoyed it.

The book celebrates the role of home-maker. There were some good ideas in there for getting your housework done early in the day. How to be effective rather than efficient! How to be a help-meet and a whole chapter for those of us approaching the emptying of our nest.

I loved it.

I have felt a little uninspired in my home-making lately -so much to do and seemingly so little time to do it in - so this book arrived at the right moment!

There were some inspirational quotes -

"Bloom where you're planted"

"The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home." Pres. Harold B Lee.

"A wise woman makes her home her business."

We shape our houses, then our houses shape us." Sir Winston Churchill.

"Our success depends not only upon the use of our time, but also on the use of its by-product, the odd moment." Arthur Brisbane

"Being organised is not a matter of following a schedule through the day, but rather one of fitting a schedule to the day." This one makes so much sense to me right now :)

And my favourite "Happiness is home-made."

Indeedy!

A woman blessed..........

"This is the day that the Lord has made, we shall be glad & rejoice in it"






I sat in the garden this afternoon - feet up, nestled within squidgy cushions with a mug of tea in my favourite flowery mug and a good book on my lap.





I could see Stephen painting.





All was peaceful and calm.





Two of my sons were playing "wall" tennis and one son and his girlfriend were playing darts. All I could hear was laughter and a muffled blur of good humoured chit chat.





I closed my eyes and sank further into the sun - warmed cushions and thanked God for making me see that I really am truly blessed.





This was a moment in time that had been placed on the "pause function"; frozen for me to relish and to remember in tiny detail.





Of course, halcyon moments don't last forever and need to be filed away to nourish the soul at a later date. These moments need to be recognised and cherished.





And then life carried on and the "play button" was pressed and life carried on its giddy course.





I was stung by a wasp and I later found a wasp nest in the conservatory roof which we had to deal with but it was all so much easier to sort out having been strengthened earlier by my moment of calm & thanksgiving.





Happy Saturday, dear bloggy friends :)

A knitted cupcake pin cushion....

So where did the week go?

It's been busy and tiring and I don't seem to have an awful lot to show for a week of hustle and bustle.


There were holiday club prep meetings with the adults and play rehearsals with the teens.


I had to learn a new banking system for the church accounts.


There was prep for my US niece who arrives here on Saturday!!


Two visits to the dentist - a twenty year old filling needed replacing - I reacted badly to the anaesthetic so that was the rest of the day written off.


I finally managed to catch up on laundry, ironing and cleaning.


So I celebrated with a wander round Hobbycraft - I couldn't resist half a metre of this fabric.............






I made a knitted cake pin cushion.







I have no car tomorrow so am hoping to bring a little order to my chaos - some quiet time houseworking oh and there's a space transporter to make for holiday club - hoola hoops, bamboo canes, lots of tape, a covering of fabric and lots of imagination from the audience - lol!


Hope you are all faring well.
L.x.

My "new me" journal

Do you remember this book that I bought to make notes on a "new me".........





Once or twice a year I spend say 20 minutes thinking about where I'm going and what I'm doing with my time and how all this fits into what God's plan for me might be.



This all sounds selfish but, honestly it's not meant to be. I consider what I have been praying for and how I feel my prayer may be being answered - the direction perhaps I should be taking. I then make some notes on what I would like to try next. I put in ideas that might bless my family, ideas of how to give back in fellowship with others etc.



So a couple of weeks ago I made my list in this gorgeous book that I bought at the charity shop.



I made a list of 8 ideas and set to work.

One of the items was to get some church gardening done - and I did do this so can tick it off my list and keep it going as stuff needs doing :)

Another was to just accept that no-one is going to be church treasurer so, at least for this year, I must continue. And it's a whole lot more pleasant to do it with a good heart and not inwardly groan each time I look at a spreadsheet - lol!

And another I have been working on was to work with the children & teens at church. I have avoided this like crazy in the past but I accepted that may be I should be using my teaching experience and hey presto I became a partner teacher with the teen group and loved it and the teenagers thanked me for my help :)

Alex and I are helping with the holiday club too.

I have to say, dear bloggy friends, I am scared to death (so if you can spare a prayer - well you know the rest -lol) but I do feel that this is what I should be doing. I also feel that is the answer to the "show me what I should be doing, Lord" prayer that I have prayed so often since leaving full time paid work.

So that leaves 5 other projects that are "works in progress"............................................!!

It's funny but the stuff I feel may be "God's plan" have all just come together easily, and I've enjoyed it. Meanwhile stuff that was maybe my plan haven't come to fruition.

I am trying with all my heart to just trust.
I'll let you know how it goes :)

L.x.

And another................

Thursday thrifting

With an all clear at the hospital this morning I felt in the pink and went thrifting.

I bought this lovely rose sugar bowl which now sits in the pink corner of my desk and makes me smile :)



Another charity shop find today was this bowl that just sings out colour -



Filled with guest soaps it now sits in the downstairs loo reproaching me for not finishing the rest of the make-over planned for that room - but it will be done... soon... hopefully ;-0


And when Daley picked up his books ordered at the library one of my reserved books was there too........ yay!



So a cup of tea and an early night methinks.

Hope you are all ok.
Much love,
L.x.

Our church is having a strawberry cream tea fund raiser at the end of July.

Many of the congregation go to art classes (we didn't know this until we all got chatting -lol!) So as well as the usual fun & games there is also going to be an art exhibition.

This time last year Steve & I had never held a paintbrush but we have been asked for some exhibits alongside many accomplished artists of many years standing - gulp!

I am busily going through our art workbooks and picking up frames from the charity shop.

Steve will be fine he has lots of good paintings to offer and I have the time to frame them up for him whilst he is at work.

But me?

I figured that my work is "naive" (ie rubbish ) so I am putting mine in "scripture frames" in the hope of spreading the Word whilst distracting the audience from my work - lol!

Storing up the sunshine........

When I saw these sunflowers at the weekend they really caught my attention but I said nothing - £1 a stem seemed a lot of money but Mr C bought them anyways :)



Sunflowers always make me smile - they remind me of "weed" in the flowerpot men (a programme for toddlers when I was a toddler!) She was a sunflower or daisy type plant with a huge smiley face - happy days !



As I ironed today, I admired these blooms next to me and let my mind happily wander - praying for people I know who could do with a prayer or two.



Now I know this might seem a bit whimsical but I thought about how these sunflowers were blooming in my vase in the midst of a dark & rainy day today.



I thought how they have soaked up the sun, warmed themselves in its rays, grown strong and tall and finally flowered bringing a little bit of sunshine to my dark weather day, cheering me as I ironed.



This is just like our faith, don't you think?



In calm sunny weather we soak up the sun, we soak up God's word , we warm ourselves in his
love for us, we grow strong and tall and our faith flowers; bringing us sunshine, stamina and sustenance for when the poorer weather times come.

I heard last night of two deaths - a cousin and a favourite family friend. I wrote about my cousin's Mom, Ada and our friend, Maud in May 2008. Both were true Proverbs 31 women whose home & family management have influenced me enormously.

Am feeling a bit sore so I shall take refuge in my home-making and my voluntary work and let the pain pass.

God bless them both.x.

Crazy conversations

Alex opened this week's Radio Times magazine today - a Saturday tradition that we (Alex, Steve & I) sit down and do the crossword.



You know all the ads, free catalogues you get in them - well Alex usually checks before he puts them in the recycling bin.



"Do you want a set of saucepans?" he asked with the advertising booklet held over the recycling bin in readiness to drop.



"Not unless they've got something to hold them," I answered as I tidied.



"What like?" he asked.



"A chef?????" I replied - lol.

Happy 4th July......

............ to all my US family and friends.

I have many photos of my US family neatly filed waiting to be put in an album.

But I don't want to spend any money (just for a change eh?) so Alex did some brilliant computer work to make me backing papers and toppers to make a scrapbook out of what was a plain old blue folder........



This will be a backing paper......




These will be frames..........



This is the opening page........




These will be journalling papers........

Then I shall go through my craft stash for embellishments that are red, white and blue and hopefully that'll be another load of photos sorted and scrapbooked :)
And no money spent!

Be nice to me, I was only trying to be nice to you - lol!

This Christianity thing is all very well but it can get you into some trouble - lol!

Steve and I laughed about this yesterday.

It is crazy hot here - well for England it's crazy hot. I have quite enjoyed it - but then I am not out at work in it, can cool down and rest as I wish. And let's face it, if the laundry dries in an hour on the line, well I'm all for it!

Anyways, yesterday was super hot and I did feel a bit poorly trundling round the supermarket - my asthma complaining about the heat - I felt worse when I realised that for the first time in years I did not have an inhaler with me. Anyway I bought some menthol lozenges - to slowly suck and inhale and carried on shopping, albeit slowly.

Anyway 10 minutes later, feeling tons better, I turned an aisle to find an elderly lady stood very still, gripping onto her trolley, looking very pale. I walked past her, did a u-turn and asked her "I hope you don't think I'm being nosey but are you ok?"

"YES!" she snapped loudly (and embarrassingly) in clipped posh English tones.

"Oh Good!" I smiled and went on my way. I could hardly help from laughing round the shop - it just all seemed so funny. But sad too - no wonder people don't want to help each other - not that it'll stop me - lol!

I felt like the cartoon of the boy scout "escorting" an ederly lady across the road as she complains"But young man, I don't want to cross the road, I was just waiting at the bus stop!"