Five Minute Friday — New

So we gather here every Friday to compare our five minute masterpieces, in all their messy beauty. We just write, without worrying if it’s just right or not.

NEW

Almost every time I hear the word NEW, I think of this scripture:

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:21-23

A fresh new day

A fresh new canvas

A fresh new heart

A new leaning on that faithfulness and not my own strength

A new showing compassion

A new smiling

I often find that hard to do, smile, to let my face show that my heart feels peace, contentment, and joy

in this new time of my life, empty nest, retired Farmer, reduced circumstances..

Because I remember “They are new every morning” I receive His Grace and Comfort in my NEW.

( Scripture and picture not included in 5 minutes, I’m way to slow to fit typing and additions in the time limit)

Published in: on August 19, 2011 at 6:41 pm  Comments (4)  

On my Mind – A Finished Project

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here from your blog by saying you’re part of “On my mind”.

On my mind this week, I finished another quilt project! Maybe it should be off my mind now.

I joined a Kaye England quilt group this spring. This quilt is the fourth project in the series. I used a different method of making the flying geese from what the pattern showed;  and in doing the figuring I made 2 geese  to a 6 inch square instead of 3 geese to a four inch square ( my brain did a flip and I didn’t even notice until I was putting the blocks together). My quilt looked very different from all the others. It is bright and colorful using Kaye England’s fabrics and will be just right for a new baby born 4 days before my birthday.

Published in: on August 19, 2011 at 5:31 pm  Comments (4)  

One Thousand Gifts and a Scripture –7

Today I’m adding to my list of One Thousand Gifts:

61.  Young ones learning and helping plant corn.

62. Zinnias, such happy flowers

63. and Sunflowers, one of my favorites

64. wind dried sheets

65. Bobo and his Lady, watching them make me smile

66. black tree silhouettes

67. Evidence of many hours, the Farmer works in the garden and around Cozy Acres

68. Nothing like fresh tomatoes, all I want

69. Memories

70. A peaceful place to visit, won’t you come?

The Scripture I read this morning:

  Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters,
and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress;
so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God,
until that he have mercy upon us. Psalms  123:1-2

Published in: on August 18, 2011 at 12:08 pm  Leave a Comment  

Wordless Wednesday — August 17, 2011

Wordless Wednesday, post a picture without many words to tell the story of today.

Bounty

Just one of many tomatoes, planted and watered by the Farmer,

increased by the Father.

Published in: on August 17, 2011 at 4:35 pm  Comments (3)  

Simple Woman’s Daybook — August 16, 2011

 

TODAY is  August 16,2011

 

 

Outside my window…it’s 10:58pm PDST, I can see a street light.

I am thinking... I really should be in bed.

I am thankful for… Today is my birthday, I’m thankful for the long life I have been given, 49 years ago Doctors told me I had a week to live.

From my learning rooms…I’ve been pondering a portion of a post from Ann Voskamp on the Lord’s Prayer:

Give us this day our daily bread… I trust that in this day, You’ll give me what is nourishing, what I need. Keep me from chewing at tomorrow’s worry, gnawing at yesterday’s regrets. Today, I will simply collect the manna You’ve given for this day, and know that what You rain down in this day is what is best. My daily bread. Cause me to give thanks and eat what You give.

From the kitchen… check out the picture, fried zucchini, a summer time treat. I don’t know why but I hardly ever make this during the rest of the year.

I am wearing… a black cotton knit nightie

I am creating…still in the process of building a log cabin quilt

I am going...  out to lunch at the Claim Jumper tomorrow

I am reading…Plain Promises by Beth Wiseman

I am hoping… to finish a quilt (not the log cabin, a different one from the Kaye England quilt group, it just needs binding) for new baby girl by Saturday.

I am hearing... crickets and night noises, (and one pesky fly ugh!)

Around the house...the laundry is washed and folded and put away, sounds a little like bragging, but I’m glad it’s done.

One of my favorite things… is to rock little babies, my daycare child’s mom just had a new baby girl, so I’m looking forward to more rocking.

A few plans for the rest of the week: lunch out tomorrow, visit a shut-in on Thursday, make potato salad on Friday for family night on Saturday, Kaye England quilt group on Saturday morning, and a meet the new baby brunch on Saturday. Looks like a full and blessed rest of the week.

Here is picture I am sharing…

Scripture…Promises given 49 years ago.

Psalms 91:14-16  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Join Simple Woman’s Daybook and  me to pause and reflect on Tuesdays

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Published in: on August 16, 2011 at 11:32 pm  Leave a Comment  

Together Still

Michelle over at So, I Married a Mennonite is doing a wedding dress link-up this weekend as she is celebrating her anniversary. It was fun to see her pictures and the others that linked up.   SO……..

How about an oldie?

June 16, 1967

Out the front door of my parent’s house into the front yard under an arch decorated with gladiolas, we exchanged wedding vows. We’ve experienced them all: better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Our heavenly Father has been faithful to keep us faithful.

October, 2009, Quebec City

Be sure to stop over at So, I Married a Mennonite to see more fun Wedding photos!

Published in: on August 12, 2011 at 11:54 pm  Leave a Comment  

Five Minute Friday — Beauty

August 12, 2011

BEAUTY

We agreed to write it down – write down the only definition of beauty that matters:

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14.

Write for Five Minutes then link here:

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/08/five-minute-friday-beauty/

I’ve never thought of myself as beautiful. I never heard myself described as beautiful. I’ve heard ‘pretty’. In my twenties, I heard my mother say “I’ve always thought you had pretty legs’, but I don’t remember any words before that from her. As I have aged, I’m almost 62, next week, and overweight, I know that I don’t appear beautiful in my eyes at all.

I do know one day He said   “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ” Mat 11:28 KJV  He didn’t care about the outward woman, and He died to change the inward woman into a new woman. He gave beauty for ashes and put hope in the heart.

I know inside this house of flesh is a heart whose main desire is to encourage others to keep on trusting Jesus, to take one step at a time even though it is dark, to hold on to the Hand that is . . .

Isa 61:1  THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, (3) To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.  Amplified Bible

Scriptures were added after the ding.

I need to make something very clear. My Mother is not a mean person. She is perfect.  In the era I was raised, you didn’t tell your children they were pretty or they did a good job. You didn’t want them to get a big head or be spoiled. We were all raised the same.  I’ll never forget the day Mom called and said guess what I just heard on the radio…’It is okay to tell your children they have done a job well!’ It was if she were liberated, as if this is what she wanted to do all the time but didn’t have permission to do! She immediately started telling the grand children that they were’ good workers’,’ thank you for doing such a good job’. She told her children also, ‘your house looks really nice’, ‘I like that shirt on you.’

My Mom is beautiful!

Published in: on August 12, 2011 at 5:10 pm  Comments (3)  

On My Mind — Sunflowers

On my Mind is a Friday picture post hosted by Rhonda at  Down to Earth. Rhonda lives in Australia, I enjoy learning of the differences and of the things that are exactly the same on both sides of the earth.

down—to—earth.blogspot.com/2011/08/on-my-mind_12.html

Amongst the squash in the Farmer’s Garden,
He plants sunflowers for his daughters and me.

POEM TO A SUNFLOWER

I see you there in glory shining bright,
Following the sun and its path of light.
Standing tall above all others in the field,
You grow, conquer, and do not yield.

The little birds take great delight
In playing round you, from day to night.
With your petals of yellow and leaves of green
How very easily you are seen.

But there is more to you than first sight,
More than beauty and grander to delight.
Every beautiful aspect that appears,
Gives praise to the Father dear.

He made you a part of creation,
And you praise him in glorious celebration!
The beauty that within you is expressed,
Gives testimony to his greatness.

Sunflower, how I long to be like you!
Glorifying God in all I do.
Following the Son and His path of light,
To worship Him in His glory shining bright.

I can learn from you, my friend,
With every breath, praise to God, I might send.
With all of his creation telling the story,
Might I, with you, proclaim His glory.

~By Katherine R. Lane (April 19, 1995)~

Published in: on August 12, 2011 at 3:14 pm  Leave a Comment  

When you don’t get what you want…

“Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.”  the Farmer.

Many times over many years our family has heard the Farmer repeat this statement.  And today it was said again.

This spring the Farmer started planning and planting the garden. He started seeds in little pots. He planted many plants on his hands and knees. He put in the drip system lines, so vegetables would be watered and not weeds.

This spring the Farmer was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, stage 3, 8-9 out of 10 on the Gleason scale.  ” The doctor says I have this thing wrong with me but I don’t feel anything” said the Farmer.  The  Farmer under went a biopsy, CT scans and   a MRI. He  took oral hormones as a first step in treatment. He received a hormone shot as the second step.  Calypso beads were inserted in the prostate gland to be able to line up the radiation correctly. A body form was made to insure being very still during radiation.

Yesterday was picking day, the Farmer got up early to start picking while it was still somewhat cool. He had to stop to make a 10:30,  Dr’s. appointment.  The radiation schedule was set, Monday through Friday at 2:00pm, for 8-9 weeks, starting September 7th.

Yesterday I heard,  ” I’m bummed.” quietly and solidly. He didn’t finish picking the garden.

The Farmer has never voiced discouragement. It didn’t matter what happened, good times, happy times, hard times, loss times, pick up and start again times, thankful times…there was always a sureness that we would make it through.

Has the Farmer lost his faith? NO!    Does He doubt God’s plan? NO!   Is He human?  Oh, Yes!  Is He grieving, yes.  Will He come through this battle with victory and praise, YES!  Not just because He is the Farmer, but because He is God’s Farmer!

Today I heard  as he smiled, “Well, this wasn’t what I wanted to experience,” as he stepped off the deck , walked back out to the garden to finish the picking.

The Farmer plants flowers for me and I love him.

Published in: on August 11, 2011 at 4:28 pm  Comments (13)  

Summer Soup or Zucchini Bruschetta

Disclaimer: this is not a fancy how-to make it food post. I’ll list the stuff, you figure out how to put it together.

This recipe is light, quick  and easy for the summer time.

Zucchini Bruschetta was the original recipe.

1/2 cup chopped zucchini; 1 Tbsp olive oil; 2 Tbsp fresh basil; 1 clove garlic; 1 cup diced tomatoes; 1 round sandwich skinny bread thingy (if not counting calories whatever bread you like; salt, pepper to taste; a sprinkle of Parmesan and a few fingers full of Mozzarella cheese.

Saute first 4 ingredients until tender crisp, add tomatoes, heat a little (don’t let the tomatoes get mushy). Spread on toasted bread, top with cheeses and broil until cheese melts.   This makes enough for maybe two of those sandwich skinny bread things.

So I started with Zucchini Bruschetta as a basis for soup.

Summer Soup  —  To make soup, I started with the zucchini and added chopped onion, cubed eggplant, and big juicy tomatoes. Letting it cook a little longer brings out the tomato juice and no other liquid is needed.  I use salt, pepper, dried basil, a garlic salt blend and Italian seasoning.

I’ve thought about adding bacon, celery, mushrooms, rice or pasta.  I guess this is just a basic soup, and what gets found in the refrig makes it way to the pot.

It is okay to make this soup in the winter.

Published in: on August 4, 2011 at 10:52 pm  Comments (2)  

Wordless Wednesday – August 3

Wordless Wednesday is here again.
Click to see pictures of Wordlessness.

One little girl models her new sweater.

Published in: on August 3, 2011 at 3:11 pm  Comments (1)  

Simple Woman’s Daybook — August 3, 2011

 

August 3, 2011

 

 

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window…bright morning sun shine, an orchid crepe myrtle bursting with color and the cool breeze making the tree limbs sway

I am thinking…of the garden I will be picking ( the Farmer is unable to pick today due to a medical procedure yesterday) and what are we going to do with all those vegetables!

I am thankful for…’ears to hear’

From my learning rooms…I am learning to ‘listen’.

From the kitchen…making more Zucchini Bruschetta today

I am wearing…jean skirt and knit top

I am creating…trying to get back to my log cabin quilt

I am going…one row at a time :)

I am reading…too any wonderful blogs

I am hoping…I can last through the entire picking process, I’ve never had to do the picking before…

I am hearing…someone’s leaf blower (go away)

Around the house…dust bunnies are almost victorious

One of my favorite things…going to the ocean

I received a retrieve, cancel the garden picking, thank you , Farmer.

A few plans for the rest of the week: building a log cabin quilt, out-of-town memorial service for the Farmer’s uncle on Friday

Here is picture I am sharing…

A determined little girl running in Grandpa’s Garden

Scripture:  trying to put into practice

“He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed…

Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.“  Mark 4:2-3,8-9

Published in: on August 3, 2011 at 8:56 am  Comments (2)  

We have the Neatest Chickens

We don’t live on a homestead or even a ranch or farm, we are assistant caretakers of our church property.We live in the southwest corner in a trailer. We have some chickens and a garden.  We average 15-18 eggs a day. We sell eggs and produce from the garden.We love our chickens!

I don’t know this variety. He walks like a clown, I was going to call him Duke, but Uncle B started calling him, Bobo, and it has stuck.

Bobo and his Lady.

I think they are beautiful.

This picture shows the green cucumbers on fencing, the cantaloupe, musk melons, watermelons, zucchini, yellow crooked necked squash and scallop squash rows.  The Farmer plants a few zinnias and sunflowers  for me.

We enjoy our life on Cozy Acres

Photobucket

Published in: on August 1, 2011 at 7:35 pm  Comments (12)  

What Happens at Family Night gets posted!

Family night was a fun place to be! Everyone but two were able to come, Aunty A and Cousin C were very much missed.

The boy cousins 12 and under arrived in the afternoon with pool time with Uncle A and Uncle D.  Most got some SPR (swimming pool rash); ALL had a great time.

I see some SPR on this Guy…but he doesn’t see us!

Our menu included Grandpa T”s tri tip shish kabob with zucchini (from the Farmer’s garden, mushrooms, and onions, rice  a roni, rolls, salad with cucumbers and cherry and yellow pear tomatoes (from the Farmer’s garden, and three kindsa  pickles.  Chocolate cake, cinnabon cupcakes, mint chocolate chip, strawberry, and bo’nilla ice cream. YUM!

Aunty M and  Aunty E use their time to advantage.

Some serious thinking occurred.

And a little educational reading happened.

SEVEN birthdays ( we had missed June) and ONE anniversary were celebrated.

A rousing sing a long kept us laughing.

Uncle A read us the story of David and Goliath, several thought provoking comments were added by the listeners.  Pray was made for dear ones far away but close in our hearts, and for near ones with special needs, and for all Little I’s friends.

Ten people were able to be thankful, I wish I had written them down. The variety of blessings are beyond number, and always worth the telling.

The Old folks left (Uncle b and the Farmer), the younger battled it out on the Wii

A serious player

and a somewhat lopsided game of 5 Crowns was played in the dining room.

Some of the crew!

Thank you Uncle A and Aunty A for extending again your warm welcome to your home for our family’s night together.

(PS. The quilt in the back ground of some of the pictures was paper pieced and quilted by Aunty E.)

Published in: on August 1, 2011 at 2:29 pm  Comments (10)