June 19, Today’s thought — The Yoke

Happy flowers!

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

Balance is the key to every good thing in life. Imbalance is the root cause of many, many ills. When there is imbalance in your body, some form or another of illness will occur — physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. When there is imbalance in your home, there will be marital problems, and family difficulties. Imbalance in your diet, or other appetites, will always results in physical challenges. Imbalance in your checkbook is definitely not a good thing. When you are imbalanced in your work, or in your recreations — somewhere along the line of your life you will have to “pay the piper.” Balance in all things is the key to every good and lasting thing in life.

Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you.” The Greek word He used was zugos, which means “a coupling.” Specifically, it is the word used to describe the beam of balance that joins two scales together. Webster’s defines balance as “an instrument for weighing; a means of judging, or deciding.”

In other words, the Lord is saying here, “Take My balance upon you; learn to judge things in life, and make decisions as I do.” Paul wrote to us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ” (Philippians 2:5)

The many benefits of this Balance are profound. Any man or woman, boy or girl, upon whom this yoke is place will experience mental, emotional, physical and spiritual steadiness. They will not stumble, or fall; yet, even if they do, it will be but for a moment. For they possess a innate capacity to right themselves and regain their footing. Their lives will be graced with unflappable confidence, even in the midst of upheaval and chaos. Just like Jesus, their Unflappable Champion.

So, as you prepare yourself to go out into today’s world make sure that His yoke is on you; it’s the one thing that makes the difference in every other thing you think or do. Rylie

Trust God for your day. . . Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on June 19, 2012 at 10:04 am  Leave a Comment  

June 5, Today’s thought — The Potter

Looking east from our deck about 8:00pm, June 4

Good Morning

Genesis 50:20 . . . but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

In one of George McDonald’s books occurs this fragment of conversation:
“I wonder why God made me,” said Mrs. Fraser bitterly. “I’m sure I don’t know what was the use of making me.”
“Perhaps not much, yet,” said Dorothy, “but then He hasn’t done with you yet. He is making you now, and you are quarreling with the process.”

If men would but believe that they are in process of creation,
and consent to be made–let the Maker handle them as the potter the clay,
yielding themselves in resplendent motion and submissive, hopeful action with the turning of His wheel–
they would ere long find themselves able to welcome every pressure of that hand on them,
even when it was felt in pain:
and sometimes not only to believe but to recognize the Divine end in view,
the bringing of a son unto glory.

Trust God for your day. . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie

Published in: on June 5, 2012 at 6:04 am  Comments (2)  

Saturday Garden Journal – on Monday, June 4

The garden and flowers love the bright sunny days. Today they are loving the rain!

Garden is growing.

Stakes have been pounded in.

Tomatoes babies for next planting.

Sunflowers and zinnias blooming.

Grizz


Roses are blooming

All the  hydrangeas have blossoms.



Grizz likes to take walks with me.

Two new pots inside, a rex begonia and a African violet’s cousin (I’m still trying to find it’s name)

Sharing with Ginny @ Small Things

Published in: on June 4, 2012 at 12:18 pm  Leave a Comment  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday – June 3

It is Sunday and time to show what you’ve found.

shine
Shining through the Sprinkler (no water attacked the Suburban in the process of taking this picture)

fast

My daughter has really fast thumbs.

left
What the picnic grounds looked like after all the people left.

peace

It just doesn’t get much more peaceful than this. (from the archives)

plain
Just plain knitting — so relaxing. . .

Not such plain knitting, more challenging.

See other findings at Ashley’s.

Published in: on June 4, 2012 at 12:45 am  Comments (12)  

Wordless Wednesday — Pounding Posts

HUMPH!

Just pictures, look here.

Published in: on May 31, 2012 at 12:47 am  Leave a Comment  

Scavenger Hunt Sunday — May 27

Scavenger Hunt Sunday items: Beneath Your Feet, Capturing Movement, Texture, Face Your Fears and Currently

Come let’s see where this hunt takes us!

Beneath your feetThe rug and deck are enjoyed all year around at Cozy Acres.

Capturing movement
I first read this prompt as ‘capturing the moment.’ Saturday I went looking for the right ‘moment,’ not a moment to be found. Sunday morning, I find ‘capturing the movement , oooohhhhhhhhh!
My poor brain had a problem until I remembered we have chickens. When we let them out for their evening scratch around,
the Farmer on his way to let out the chickens.
there is lots of movement- watch: http://youtu.be/JhKt-6x1oPI

Texture
As I saw this close-up of the bud of a sunflower, I whispered, “oh, my…”

Face your fears
My bowl looks empty, but it is full of fears as I make decisions to change my eating habits.

Currently
Quilt squares from my current quilting project, hanging from our young grape row, with berries, sunflowers and zinnias behind.

Other hunters’ finds can be see at Ramblings and Photos.

Published in: on May 27, 2012 at 5:47 pm  Comments (12)  

May 22 Garden Update

The Farmer is so glad it is planting time. Much planning and preparation goes into Cozy Acre’s garden. The bountiful harvest makes all the work worthwhile.

Facing south:

on the left, garden plot is 90’x75′ . The lighter dirt is a driveway between the two plots.

on the right, garden plot is 40’x75′

Winter garden, 34’x51′, is in the back, the Farmer is still picking swiss chard and beets.

The Farmer’s drip watering system:

The plants get covered with mulch to preserve water and cut down on weeds. The Farmer only waters the plants not walkways, He says, ‘if you don’t water the weeds, they won’t grow.’

Tomato

Bell Pepper

Published in: on May 22, 2012 at 11:11 am  Comments (3)  

Spring = Growing

At Cozy Acres spring is coming.

A few pictures of the Farmer’s winter/spring garden

beets                                            broccoli                                   parsleyand onions

cabbage, bolted          mustard greens,turnip flowers       lettuce s

cauliflower                   cauliflower leavings

The row on the right raspberries, boysenberries and Marion berries.

                                 

The left row grapes,   ??  the varieties. Grape cuttings have leaves.

West and south sides have glass, the east side will have a sliding door and window to match west. The back side will be wood. All the glass has been donated.  The floor is river rock covered with decomposed granite. the Farmer is getting anxious to begin planting seed.

We hope you don’t have skin problems as this tree does.

These iris have been blooming since November and still there are bubs.

Love these violets!

Part of our rose garden, it is amazing to me  –  how drastically the roses are pruned. They grow full and beautiful.

Ajuga  is 6-8 inches tall, I’ve never had them grow so well as here.

This is my row of hydrangeas, all have good new growth. To the left, assorted ground covers are being planted. All the varieties I brought from Grandma Crain are growing nicely.

Our current wall hanging is one I made in 2004. I entered a quilt challenge, given the musical note fabric make a quilt on the theme, Music in the Foothills for the Foothill Quilt guild quilt show. The pattern is a variation of delectable mountains. All those little half square triangles were made with triangle paper. I won  the Viewer’s Choice award. I was more pleased to win the award than on from the judges. The viewer’s choice award is received from votes from the public viewers and quilters.

Published in: on April 6, 2012 at 6:42 pm  Comments (1)  

Yarn Stash in the Stash Shed

Have you wondered what’s inside?

Sunday afternoon I started re-organizing the Stash Shed. It was suffering from

pile it-itis

I’ll let you take a peek, understand a lot of moving around had already been going on, I didn’t think of taking before pictures.

On the right I have all my office supply stuff, games, puzzles, etc, next is my pantry food, baking supplies, spices, paper goods and cleaning supplies.  Straight back lower shelf I keep day care stuff car seat, portacrib, extra clothes, diapers, ya’ know.

Upper shelves have quilt kits, assorted fabric boxed according to style ( ’30’s, reproductions, orientals). behind the corner of the cutting table lower shelves and floor I have my yarn.

The top of the cutting table is a flat surface, the rule is you must place STUFF on flat surfaces!

Initially, I was trying to conquer that area. I’m almost done. Gotta put the yarn babies to bed.

Random pictures of yarn.

In the sorting stage.

Disclaimer, my mom sorted her yarn before moving and I got a tub ‘o yarn. So some of these babies are very new to me. Some are long time friends.

I don’t just collect. I also knit.

I must go fondle my yarn and finish my puttering.

Published in: on March 5, 2012 at 12:32 pm  Leave a Comment  

Citrus Orchard at Cozy Acres

the Farmer got all five of the citrus trees planted in time for this long awaited rain. Wintery weather is my favorite. Let it blow!

Our five citrus circles

Don’t they look pretty.

Published in: on March 1, 2012 at 10:21 am  Comments (1)  

Wordless Wednesday — Garden Preparation

Wordless on Wednesdays, but not idle.

To view other wordlessness, go here.

Published in: on February 29, 2012 at 11:51 am  Comments (2)  

Bulbs After a Long Sleep

February 28, 2011

February 14, 2012

February 27, 2012

February 27, 2012

This is why I know spring is on its way.

Published in: on February 27, 2012 at 6:00 pm  Comments (1)  

What’s Happening at Cozy Acres, Outside and Inside

February 21 is a beautiful winter day on Cozy Acres. The Farmer said, ” Today I’ll get the planting done”   Walk around with me, I’ll show you.

Last week the Farmer dug up a wayward wisteria and put up this woven wire trellis. Monday 4 star jasmine were purchased with a gift certificate from Capital Nursery.




Compost, fertilizer and tools all together
The Farmer has planting sown to a science.

Star Jasmine at home at Cozy Acres.

Some plants are starting to bloom.

Three varieties of violets and primroses are coming up.

Christmas Rose from Grandma Crain.

Today’s Seed Nursery

Fig cuttings

Future Greenhouse

Behind the tractor shed, facing south and west

Railroad ties for footing, river rocks for flooring

Wood for framing

Poor picture, used patio doors and assorted windows
from Enterprise Glass, Mary’s employer

Winter Garden

Kind of weedy, still trying to perfect winter gardening.

Beets

Broccoli takes about a minute to steam to tender crisp.

Cauliflower, onions, greens

Monday the Farmer purchased 5 citrus trees, Meyer Lemon, Blood Orange, Navel Orange,  Rio Red grapefruit, and a Satsuma tangerine.

Trees will get planted in the front yard north side of house.

The Farmer on his knees again, praying while planting, I’m sure.

Grass will be removed inside the circle, tree planted, mulched thickly, river rock will border each planting.

You have to see the daffodils around the pecan tree.

Daffodils and china lilies from Grandma Crain and the Lincoln Avenue property.

View from north porch.

Of course, Grizz and Buster are overseeing everything.

Inside at Cozy Acres is not near as exciting, except to me.

Knitting stuff first.
I’ve been trying to finish some projects.

Only about 3-4 inches and the hood will be done on this sweatshirt sweater.

Tails are waiting to be woven in and these dishcloths are done.

This ‘Knit-a-long’ scarf is the most challenging project I have ever tried. I love the color of the yarn and the bronze beads accent it beautifully. My skills are falling short, but I’m not giving up.

I started this slouchy sock hat this week. I tried it on and it’s time to rip it allllllllll out. I knitted it  so loosely on size 10 needles,  that it is big enough for a giant, not the petite young lady I’ve in mind.

New yarn this month plus the hat yarn.

Quilting now.

My Christmas window hanging binding is pinned and ready to hand stitch and it’s done. Ready for next Christmas.

I’m on track with the Bread and Butter Quilting Club quilt for this year.

This year’s project.

The stripe  and all but 7 of the coordinating fabrics;   I found in my stash.

The center block, I fussy cut the urn from the stripe fabric, from cutting to final pressing about 4 hours.  For any quilters that read this, the flying geese were made with the one seam method.  I used method 4. I really like this method. I get  a good 1/4 inch from outside points to edge of block, so I don’t won’t loose any points that way and the three dimensional look is neat.

This is what our days are looking  like at Cozy Acres; and there are the chickens, and the little girlies 3 days a week, general yard work, juicing, and life.   I wouldn’t trade it for ……………..well, maybe I’ll think about this a little longer. 🙂

Published in: on February 21, 2012 at 2:19 pm  Comments (1)  

One Thousand Gifts — February Joy Dare

One Thousand Gifts in2012

February Joy Dare–capturing these gifts and joining Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience.

“Joy is always a function of gratitude — and gratitude is always a function of perspective. If we are going to change our lives, what we’re going to have to change is the way we see.”

February 1

a gift found at 11:30, at 2:30 and at 6:30

at 11:30 am   —  fresh vegetable juice from the Farmer
at 2:30 pm  —  littlies sleeping
at 6:30 pm  —  safely arriving home

February 2

3 things over heard today all gifts

“Temper your expectations so you aren’t  overcome with discouragement”

Chorus from a song  — “God will make this trial a blessing though it sends me to my knees, Though my tears flow like a river yet in Him there’s sweet relief, There’s no need to get discouraged there’s no need to talk defeat, God will make this trial a blessing and the whole wide world will see”

“I put 30.00 worth of gas in the car today” the Farmer

February 3

3 gifts found in writing

Linking with Five Minute Friday and being reminded that Jesus and His sacrifice is Real

An excerpt from Streams in the Desert  February 1, This Thing is from Me

In my devotions;  Proverbs 16:23  “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips”. ever striving to have “the law of kindness is in her mouth.”

February 4

3 gifts found when bent down

I have difficulty physically bending down, so in my heart I am bowing:

A gift while bending low in devotions I found: Proverbs 17:8  A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. In the center column for ‘a precious stone’ I read ‘a stone of grace’.

Receiving the  gift of forgiveness while bending low in saying I’m sorry.

When bending down, little hands reach up.

February 5

One gift stitched:  A quilt as a memento of our Journey across the USA

One gift , hammered  This shed hammered, nailed, sawed, painted by my son and his friends became my pantry, office supply station, yarn and fabric stash home, daycare storage, and pile it place. Thank you!

One gift woven:  The love of  a daughter and mother can have woven together

February 6

3 gifts found outside

The front porch deck

Just after the deck was finished, October 2010

What the deck looked like in July, 2011

 A row of iris blooming happily in their new home
The green leaves of bulbs heralding the coming of spring

February 7

3 gifts red

The Words of Christ
A new-to-me sweater
A red almond  M&M

February8

a gift broken,  what I brought to Christ  – a broken and contrite heart

a gift fixed,    the foot control for my sewing machine by the  Farmer

a gift thrifted  —  a long sleeved blue flat knit sweater I’d been wanting to use to layer

February 9

3 gifts that were surprises  —  unexpected grace

“Would you like to do something Tuesday?

How easy Christ’s yoke has been regarding a need that seemed so hard!

Last year’s hyacinth re-blooming

February 10

3 times you heard laughter today

My three daughters laughing at something I said.

During Sunday’s message at an example of Christian living that rang true, lemons trees and lemons

Friendly laughter while visiting an ill friend

Gifts 209  —  239

Published in: on February 13, 2012 at 3:59 pm  Leave a Comment  

Wordless Wednesday — Reality

Check out other Wordless people here.

Published in: on February 8, 2012 at 11:54 am  Comments (2)  
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