The Conversation Part 2

Everyone had their eyes on the "cute loud lady" with a great big smile when she moved on from the "newlywed" as she wished her luck on her marriage because as she put it....... you will need it.  She never stopped smiling even while complaining about her original design on her toe not looking good enough.  (If you have not read "The Conversation" please read last post.)

All of the sudden she saw someone else she knew.  For some reason she started downgrading women yet had a big smile on her face.  She actually made this statement:
She said: "Most women's minds are like a "cesspool."  (I thought to myself....huh???) She said, "They never try to venture out and learn that there is more to life than children, homes and marriage."  I thought to myself that even if you are not married or don't have children of your own......somewhere in your family you can be a blessing in someones life as a woman.  Then I thought to myself, she doesn't know the women in my life such as my Mother, my Granny, my Grandma, my daughters, my sisters, aunts, cousins and friends.  Then I thought.....what is more important than children, homes, and marriage?

CESSPOOL
1. A covered hole or pit for receiving drainage or sewage, as from a house.

2. A filthy, disgusting, or morally corrupt place.

This whole time that this one sided conversation was going on, I could see that some of the women were not liking what she was saying.  I didn't either.  I am sure out of all those women and 2 men in that nail salon that there were professionals, homemakers, mothers, single women, wives, etc.
I know that I feel that I have been all of theses at one time in my life.
 Women do what they have to do.



Then I realized that the lady she was talking to now, was a beautician.  All of the sudden, the "cute loud lady" asked the woman this.  "If I come to you and let you do my hair, can you make me beautiful?" (all with a big smile). She said that she wants to stay young looking and beautiful the rest of her life.   The lady told her that she was a beautician and not a magician.  I looked around the room to see several smile at this.  I don't think the beautician meant it like it sounded because I could tell they were friendly on the surface but I thought it was a great answer.

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SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART
I didn't like anything this lady was saying(with a big smile on her face) but while she talked I thought the only thing to do for her would be to pray for her.  I am asking you to do the same if you are a praying person. I wondered how many people in that room were praying for her.   
I wondered why I was privileged to over hear this conversation. 
I went from feeling anger and being offended, to try to see
 the lesson that was in this for me.
Then I realized I need to read Proverbs 31:10-31.
The Virtuous Woman
She was  a trustworthy woman.
She does good and not evil.
She works willingly with her hands.
She plans her meals and does what she has to do to prepare it.
She considers others before herself.
She is a business woman.
She is strong.
She works hard and does the best that she can.
She helps the needy.
She makes sure her family is warm.
She is dressed in nice clothes.
She helps financially in the family.
She is full of wisdom and kindness.
She is not lazy.
Her children and husband are proud of her.
She is not vain.
She fears the Lord.
The fruit of her hands of her works tell her story without words.


CESSPOOL................NOT.

Lessons for me:
There are too many to list. 
One of my favorite quotes says it all:

I am aware that I am less than people prefer me to be,
 but most people are unaware that I am so much more than what they see.

Author Unknown

The Conversation With A Big Smile

Here I am sitting in a public place getting my nails done.  There were several women and men there.  I am sittting here enjoying a luxury that I don't do often enough when a lady walked in talking very very loud yet had a happy smile on her face. 

My first impression of her was that she looked too cute to be that loud. She wasn't a beautiful lady but her confidence made her stand out.  I would guess that she was in her late 40's.  She was very petite and wore very young looking clothes. 

The longer that she was there you could tell that she thought she knew it all.  Everyone was listening to her tell them about the certain design that she wanted on her big toe that she had made up herself.  She said she thought it looked great on her toes. (all with a big smile). 

When she came in she was with another lady that looked to be a little older than her. This lady did not make a sound.  I don't think that she had the opportunity to speak even if she had wanted to. But I believe that if she had spoke, she would have been kind, real and soft spoken.  I may be wrong and I will never know because she never said a word. 

The cute loud lady with the big smile was voicing her opinion about the chair she was in, the water temp., the t.v. channel that was on, her original design for her big toe, and the person she wanted to do her toes. Everyone had turned their attention to her. During all of this complaining all with a big smile she looked across the room and realized that she knew someone.

She asked the younger girl how she was (all with a big smile).  The girl answered softly and said fine and how are you?  Well, you can imagine how that conversation went.  She proceeded to tell her everything in life that is wrong and how she could change the world. (all with a big smile).  Then she looked across the room at the younger girl and said, "Did I hear that you got married?"  The young girl said "Yes. Our wedding was in Sept.".  The loud lady smiled really big and said, "Are you happy?"  The young girl said, "Oh yes!"  The loud lady said, "that is great".  Then there was silence for a minute. (something we had not heard since she walked in.) In my mind, I thought maybe that I had the wrong impression of the loud lady.  Then I found out that I was not wrong!!!  All of the sudden she told the young girl not to expect too much happiness for long because every man will be like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  She went on to put down the sanctity of marriage. (All with a huge smile).

The young girl didn't say a word.  She just smiled a semi sweet smile at her while she was talking.  The young girl was in the chair next to mine.  I looked over at her as she had tears in her eyes.  I was speechless.  Imagine that.  Oh I wanted to say something but I didn't want to be like the loud lady.  You may wonder why I am sharing this with you and why I even cared about the young newlywed. 

Because at this point in my life......I am trying to see lessons in everything that happens.

Lesson #1 for me:  Our words and tongue can hurt people even when we wear a big smile.

Lesson #2 for me:  What you see is not always what you get even if you wear a big smile.

Lesson #3 for me: Don't give advice unless asked and then be careful how you say it. 

 (This is a lesson I need to learn with my grown up children but it is hard to stop being motherly.)

Lesson #4 for me: Nobody knows it all.

Lesson #5 for me:  Stay quiet and be gentle in spirit.
Lesson #6 for me:  Listen.

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The Conversation (part 2) will be continued tomorrow (all with a big smile).

A Little Bit Of Everything But Lots Of Fun

I know you have saw me practice my crochet before and here I go again.

I am trying to learn the basket weave.  Practice makes perfect, right?

So far I have 5 of these little blocks made. 
Each one looks just a little bit different but that is ok.
This is how I learn.

Well the other night I was thinking of my beautiful Dahlias that I have outside.
I wondered if there was a way to make some pretty flowers.
So I found it on youtube.com
These are made from the gift tissue paper.  It was so easy to make and so much fun!

I had so much fun that I made them all different sizes. 
I am going to make some yellow ones too.

Break Time!!!

Look what came in the mail!

I won a give away over at Debra's Blog!
Look at this book...Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts by Pam & Nicky Lintott
along with Moda "Flutterby" Charm Squares with a very sweet note.
Thank you Debra!

We visited a new friend's place and they gave us a bucket full of pears!

And look at this little tree full of pears!  This is where they came from! 
They had so many different trees.  They had persimmon, pear, apple, figs!
I loved seeing all of this!

Now this is the question of the week?
What do you think I am going to do with all of this okra???
I will give you a hint.  It will be part of my RAK gifts that I am making!
Fun, Fun, Fun!

Contentment In My Sewing Room

Since Granny passed away I have not done too much sewing but when I joined the FNSI (last post), I think I got my motivation back. I had these Buckwheat Neck roll pillows already cut out a long time ago so I decided to get busy and get them done.
*I have had several ask how I made these.  I got this pattern from marthastewart.com
Just search for Buckwheat Neck Roll Pillows*

I have fell in love with ironing!  Yes, ironing.  I used to dread it so much until I found Netflix.
Does that make sense?  I go in to my sewing room and turn on my computer and watch a good movie while ironing. 
I LOVE ironing now!

I have watched several movies.  I have watched Sense and Sensablility, The Secret Garden, A Secret Affair, The Duchess, Wuthering Heights.  This is the most movies I have ever watched in forever. 

I also watch movies while I am sewing!

I love spending time in my sewing room.

I had a dozen diapers that I had bought to make burp cloths
 with for gifts so I just got busy and got them done!

Are they not the cutest if I say so myself?? 
There are 4 sets of 3 already packaged up
 to give to the next baby in line!!
I had so much fun making all of these.
*I also have had several bloggers asking about this pattern.
Click here for tutorial on these burp cloths. There is also a bib tutorial with this. *

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SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART

Lord, grant us true contentment…

Acceptance of what each day brings,

Joy in you and not in things,

Tranquility in storm or strife,

Serenity in all of life;

That when you whisper, ‘Peace, be still,’

We’ll wait upon your perfect will,

Knowing we will soon be blessed

By love that only wants our best.

Help us see that we are meant

To rest in you… and be content.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

I Timothy 6:8

[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.  Philippians 4:11

Picture Capacity Full On Blogger

I just wanted to let you know that it finally happened. My picture capacity is full on blogger. I had thought about starting a new blog but I found out that you can buy storage for $5.00 a year so that seemed to be the simplest thing to do. Hopefully it will be complete tomorrow. It says it could take up to 24 hours. I am so glad that I don't have to change to another blog. Hopefully this will solve the problem. How did I know that it was full? It told me when I tried to download my pictures.

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Some excerpts from the book I am reading:

Facing Your Giants

*You've seen your Godzilla.

The question is, is he all you see?

*Rush your giant with a God-saturated soul.

*Giants. We must face them.

Yet we need not face them alone.

*Are you four times as likely to describe the strength of God

as you are the demands of your day?

*Focus on giants--you stumble.

Focus on God--your giants tumble.

*Just some things to ponder!

His & Hers

HIS side of the bed. Perfect.

HER Side of the bed complete with fan for hot flashes, water, magazine, & cell phone not to mention cough drops and many other things in that top drawer. SHE has to be prepared for anything.

I love HER rocker but why is it in the bedroom? What is that hanging on the top? Is it HER clothes? Surely not.

Why is this table in the bedroom on HER side? At least it is cleaned off right now but it is another catch all. The plan was to have nothing in the bedroom except bed, nightstands, and flat screen t.v. How come everything extra is on HER side?

No organization to HER closet at all. What is she thinking?

Just take it off and throw it in, huh?

Just part of HIS immaculate closet.

Part of HER messy desk.

HIS perfectly neat desk.

HER messy Work (fun) Sewing area

Just part of HIS perfect work area in his garage.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent (HER)! SHE is in the mood to declutter and get everything in order. SHE looks around the house and who is it that has the piles? HER. SHE has the neatest, most organized, most prepared husband in the whole world. SHE thinks it is time to get busy but not before vacation!!!!

SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART

Learn from yesterday.

Live for today.

Hope for tomorrow.

Simple Things

Ham & Bean Soup with Cornbread
















We use well water!
















My Garden: Better Late Than Never!
Tomatoes, Corn, Okra, Beans, Peas, Canteloupe, Squash,
Cucumbers & even gourds















Improvise:
I don't have a clothes line anymore but I have
a huge deck that works great!
















I love folding my towels on my deck in the sunshine.
Can you smell that fresh smell?

I have been hearing on the news about all of the celebrities going "green". Some of this stuff seems a little crazy to me. I heard on the news that Al Gore, who is suppose to believe in this stuff uses 20 times more energy in one month in his home, than the average household. This blew my mind. I guess to me "going green" means saving money & energy. It means not being wasteful. It means using what we have and not running to the store everytime we have a thought.

I guess I have always been a little thrifty and I don't think you have to spend a lot of money to save money. I have to admit, that since my children are grown, I have enjoyed some luxuries that I didn't have when they were small. But the gas prices, lower paychecks, and grocery prices have really got me thinking. I remember our grandparents saved every container such as margarine cups, etc.- How frugal are we? We go out and buy the "Smart Spin" as seen on t.v.! They saved things like that because they had been through the depression and hard times. They didn't have a choice. They had a rainy day fund. They paid cash for everything. Debt? They would not have thought of it. I have tried to teach my children to stay out of debt and as Dave Ramsey says,"Live like no one else, so you can live like no on else!" Most of us eat out all the time instead of cooking mainly because we are running all the time. We just don't think anything about it. Well, until now. I remember not too long ago everyone wanted a big gas guzzling SUV. Now everyone wants the little car that is good on gas! Being frugal is now popular! Imagine that?

All the talk about going green has got me to thinking more about conserving. It has also made me think of why I am at home. I am a homemaker. I used to have the mindset that I could SAVE more money staying at home, than I could MAKE outside the home, but I have to admit that I have been spoiled. I have decided that I need to think more about this and my part in my home. I have been a single mom before and had to make a living, but I have been blessed for the past 30 years to have a husband who wants me at home. I think this is such an honor and something that shouldn't be took lightly. I can't help but think of Proverbs 31: 10-31. It is my favorite scripture in the Bible and what I have always wanted to be. I loved raising my children at home. There is no amount of money that I could have made that would replace that. Yes, we had to make many sacrifices for me to be able to stay home. My children often tell me how special that eating out was because we didn't do it often. Now, eating out is never a thought.

There are so many things a woman (working outside the home or inside the home) can do to help conserve energy and save money. My 94 year old granny that most of you now know through my blog is one of the wisest women I know besides my Mom.
My granny says she has a certain day, to do certain things. Her house is immaculate, nothing fancy, but she says she doesn't need much. She lives very simply and is one of the happiest women I know. My Pawpaw died several years ago while riding his lawn mower. My granny does not live any differently than when he was alive. I know what you are thinking.....well, she lives by herself. She has lots of time. Yes, that is so true. But they say she has been this way forever. She raised 6 children. I got a little saying from her a long time ago. She said, we all choose what we want to do. If we say we don't have time for something, it is because we choose not to do it. So this has got me to thinking and doing.

Simple things that I can do:

Combine all my errands into one trip a week to save on gas.

Plan my meals and use a list at the grocery store.

Eat at home more. Cook. I try to freeze my leftovers for another meal.

Plant a garden. Instead of buying plants, I started most of my garden vegetables from seeds in January.

Instead of taking a piece of aluminum foil off of a dish and just tossing it in the garbage, I now think to myself how I can save it for another use.

I have also been thinking about the dryer in my home. It heats up my house which causes my air conditioning to run more, if I have it on. I love my windows open, so we don't have our air on too much unless it is in the 90's. I haven't had my dryer on in about a week. I am so proud. I don't have a clothesline anymore but I hung my towels and sheets on my deck across the rail. I love the smell of sheets hung outside. My clothes, I have been hanging on hangers on my screened in porch. What is so funny to me is my clothes get dry faster than if they were in the dryer.

When emptying my trash, I try to put all the trash into 1 large trash bag, compacted, instead of wasting several trash bags and replacing them with new ones.

We do not purchase paper plates & cups anymore, unless it is for a special occasion or trip.


We do not leave unnecessary lights on in our home.

I know there are many other things that I could do to save money and conserve energy. But this is just a few of the things I have been thinking about. I can't go out and buy solar panels and all the other things the celebrities are doing, but I can do little, simple things. I just want to do more. Yes, we live a great life. We are very blessed. We have a nice home and nice cars. We have a boat on the lake. We are going on vacation this year with our family. My family is blessed with their health except my son who needs prayer. There are so many people hurting. Their homes are being foreclosed on. There are people that can't find a job. This could be us and I want to do my part to prepare for that rainy day. Thanks for letting me ramble a few of my thoughts.