On Wednesday some people are wordless, check them out here
Happy New Year!
On My Mind — Zucchini Bread
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”.
I am thinking about this Zucchini bread I made last week. Two loaves went with me to my family’s early in December Christmas Dinner. They liked it. One was eaten and the other stayed with the hostess. The third loaf is on its way to Idaho to join some dear ones who are like family in my heart. (She is the sister I never had.)
One Thousand Gifts and a Scripture
Adding to my One Thousand gifts:
101. This cat, Busterford Jones, who moved to Cozy Acres scared and untrusting, has adapted and become the #1 lap cat. I get this look if the computer is in his way.
102. Ideas from a quilt show.
103. I am very thankful for my mom. She is such an example of the Proverbs 31 woman. Thank you.
I am very thankful for my home.
104. This cozy spot where I write, knit, read, eat, doze, hold cats, rock babies, gaze out the door, pray and weep.
105. This is the cozy spot where I create .
106. This is my cozy kitchen most of the time it is neater than this but I love the way the light played in this picture.
107. Here is the Farmer’s cozy spot.
108. And COZY, though it may be, I am thankful for indoor plumbing. Please excuse the camera strap.
I thankful for memories, still, of cruise taken in 2009, with these dear-to-my-heart people.
109. On our way to dinner in New York City.
110. Checking out New York City.
111. Quebec City
112. A carriage ride in Quebec City.
113. A real gift- to be able to cruise with the Farmer.
114. The trip of our life time ‘from sea to shining sea’ in 2007.
115. A favorite memento from ‘the trip’ – The Story Teller, purchased in New Mexico.
And a Scripture:
. . . trust . . . in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1Timothy 6:17
linking with: http://www.aholyexperience.com
Five Minute Friday — Coloring
It’s Friday.
Let’s do it. Let’s just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
Coloring
Coloring inside the lines
Carefully
Outlining the shapes with chosen color
Color carefully
filling all the area
shading as evenly as possible
Don’t cross the lines.
A controlled activity the only choice is what color.
Shaped for me was predetermined for a long time
Coloring in the lines was
satisfying,
fulfilling,
even
full of joy for the accomplishment of filling the space perfectly.
but now the shape is confining, limiting, stifling,
the creation of another
Is now the time
to take a leap, to dare, to pick up a color that doesn’t match the shape–
and with abandon
cross the line
with bright happy coloring.
WAIT! Where are the lines?
linking you with The Gypsy Mama at
http://thegypsymama.com/2011/12/five-minute-friday-color/
Pictures from google:
crayons – todaysetiquette.blogspot.c0m
no lines – thetwomangame.com
{this moment} the Farmer
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Linking here: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2011/12/this-moment-1.html
Wordless Wednesday — It’s the Little Things
On Wednesday’s I am wordless:
Joining other wordless ones here:
http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/
My Spot at Cozy Acres
This is where I sit and read and write and knit and eat.
Sometimes I even doze here.
This is what I see if the door is open.
This is the view out the window.
It faces south.
The window is covered with sunshades.
This is what I’m trying to see.
Being Honest
My friend commented on Adjusting to Change:
“Oh my…this is huge! Not impossible, but huge! . . .”
Today
Right now this seems hugely impossible!!!!
I ate my way through thanksgiving as normal, smaller portions though…..now to start again
UGH! It seems like such a mountain and I’m not even sure I want to climb it.
Gird up my mind, thinking again why I started in the first place,
Was it just an impluse?
Was it to please someone?
Do I really believe there is value in this change?
Is this what I need to face? instead of hoping things will change without me doing anything different? Isn’t that the definition of insanity?
And then I hear:
O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. Daniel 10:11-12, 18-19
Why is this so very hard?
I went looking for a picture of climbing a mountain and stumbled across this essay I used as a e-mail post a long time ago.
I TRIED TO CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN TODAY.
I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt overwhelmed, so I had to turn back.
I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall, and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place.
I was ready to climb the mountain today. But it was so hot outside, I thought I better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow’s attempt.
I was about to climb the mountain today. But I had so many other things to do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of much more important tasks. I washed my car, mowed the grass and watched the big game. Today the mountain will just have to wait.
I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in it’s majestic beauty, I knew I stood no chance of making it to the top, so I figured why even bother trying.
I have forgotten about climbing the mountain today; until a friend came by and asked me what I was up to lately. I told him I was thinking about climbing that mountain some day. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish this task.
Finally, he said, “I just got back from climbing the mountain. For the longest time I told myself I was trying to climb the mountain but never made any progress. I almost let the dream of making it to the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could.
One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn’t make an attempt at this dream all my dreams will eventually die.”
“The next morning, I started my climb.” He continued, “It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace. When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices inside my head screamed “stop!” I focused on my goal never letting it out of sight, and I kept moving forward. At times, I was ready to quit, but I knew I had come too far. Time and time again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I struggled to make it to the top, but I climbed the mountain!”
“I have to be going,” my friend said. “Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams. By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?”
I looked at him, with intensity and confidence in my eyes, and said, “I have a mountain to climb.” – Gary Barnes
Then I found my picture with this ………..
The Mountain Author: Jim Stovall
There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains. The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day, and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains.
The lowlanders didn’t know how to climb the mountain. They didn’t know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn’t know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain.
Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home.
The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only several hundred feet.
Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below.
As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby’s mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn’t figured out how to climb.
And then they saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. How could that be?
One man greeted her and said, “We couldn’t climb this mountain. How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn’t do it?”
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “It wasn’t your baby.”
sighs……heartache……….tears……….
but I can’t say I’m starting the climb………………yet.
On my mind — A Finished Log Cabin
A few weeks back ‘on my mind’ was this log cabin quilt in progress. I finished hand sewing the binding on November 28, 2011. It is off my to finish list and is now check off as a Christmas gift for a grandson.
My daughter, Emily, does all my quilting on our long arm quilting machine.
Also on the finished list is this log cabin afghan, I made to try the knitting strips of color, binding that strip off, and picking up stitches on another side to knit another strip of color. I liked doing it as it is one of those projects that don’t take a lot of concentration. This one, too, is check of the Christmas gift list for another grandson.
I’m joining others with things on their minds here:
The Last Leaf
Wordless Wednesday — Because sometimes you don’t need words.
Linking with other wordless people:
Because Gratitude is my Hobby Hourse
Gratitude — The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
During November many friends have listed things for which they were thankful. The items varied from the most simple of an everyday blessing to the mind boggling power of our heavenly Father, yet the thankful heart acknowledged them all. That is the secret of gratitude: In everything give thanks.
The book, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach started me on my journey of intentional gratitude. These quotes encouraged me to pursue gratitude and showed some of the benefits of being thankful.
“At the heart of Simple Abundance is an authentic awakening, one that resonates within your woul: you already possess all you need to be genuinely happy.”
“These are the six threads of abundant living which , when woven together produce a tapestry of contentment that wraps us in inner peace, well=being, happiness and a sense of security. First there is gratitude. When we do a mental and spiritual inventory of all that we have, we realize that we are very rich indeed. Gratitude gives way to simplicity–the desire to clear out, pare down, and realize the essentials of what we need to live truly well. Simplicity brings with it order, both internally and externally. A sense of order in our life brings us harmony. Harmony provides us with the inner peace we need to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us each day and beauty opens us to joy.”
Gratitude
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. IT can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a hoe,a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. Melody Beattie
“. . .this first tool could change your life beyond belief: it’s what I call a daily gratitude journal. i have a beautiful blank book and each night before I go to bed, I write down five things that I can be grateful about the day.Some days my list will be filled with amazing things, most days just simple joys.
Other days–rough ones–i might think that I don’t have five things to be grateful for, so I’ll write down my basics, my health, my husband and daughter, their health my animals, my home, my friends, and the comfortable bed that I’m about to get into as well as the fact that the day’s over. That’s okay. Real life isn’t always going to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgment of what is working in our lives can help us not only survive but surmount our difficulties. ”
Simplicity
“Once we take stock of our lives and let gratitude begin its transformative work, the next step on the path unfolds naturally. When we appreciate how much we have, we feel the urge to pare down,get back to basics, and learn what is essential for our happiness. We long to realize what is really important.
Many people believe simplicity implies doing without. On the contrary. True simplicity as a conscious life choice illuminates our lives from within. True simplicity is both buoyant and bountiful, able to liberate depressed spirits from the bondage and burden of extravagance and excess.”
Order
“There is an immediate emotional and psychological payoff to getting our houses in order.
” No woman can think clearly when constantly surrounded by clutter, chaos, and confusion, no matter who is responsible for it. Begin to think of order not as a strait-jacket of “shoulds” (make the bed, wash the dishes, take out the garbage) but as a shape–the foundation–for the beautiful life you are creating. It may be as simple as putting something back that you take out, hanging up something you take off, or teaching those who live with you to do the same for the common good of all. ”
Harmony
The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes, ah, that is hwere the art resides. Artur Schnabel
“Harmony is the inner cadence of contentment we feel when the melody of life is in tune. When somehow we’re able to strike the right chord–to balance the expectations of our families and our responsibilities in the world on the one hand with our inner needs for spiritual growth and personal expression on the other. This is one of the most difficult challenges any woman faces because it requires that we make choices every day.”
Beauty
While the Simple Abundance path is gentle, its lessons are powerful. First of all, we learn to be grateful no matter what our circumstances may. In offering gratitude for our real lives, we discover how to change them for the better. As we embrace simplicity, we learn that less is truly more. This freedom encourages us to bring order to our affairs and cultivate harmony in our inner world. Going at our own pace, learning to recognize our limitations, appreciating our progress, we weave the lessons into the fabric of our daily moments until they become apart of us.
It is in the details of life that beauty is reveled, sustained and nurtured.”
Joy
With as eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy , we see into the life of things. William Wadsworth
The simple Abundant journey takes us to undiscovered territory. We learn each day how cultivating gratitude tills the soil of our soul and the how the seeds of simplicity and order send their roots down deep into the earth of our everyday existence. As we progress, harmony inspires us with quiet courage to create an authentic life for ourselves and those we love. With patience beauty blossoms and our hearts experience not only happiness, which often is fleeting, but a wellspring of joy that refreshes and renews.
Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.”
Accepting Real Life
(This thought was huge in the way I began to consider my life.)
“Accepting and blessing our circumstances is a powerful tool for transformation. In fact, this potent combination is a spiritual elixir that can work miracles in our lives.
What is acceptance? Acceptance is surrendering to what is; our circumstances, our feelings, our problems, our financial status, our work, our health, our relationships with other people, the delay of our dreams. Before we can change anything in our life we have recognize that this is the way it’s meant to be right now. For me, acceptance has become what I call the long sigh of the soul. It’s the closed eyes in prayer, perhaps even the quiet tears. It’s “all right” as in “All right, You lead, I’ll follow.” and it’s “all right” as in “Everything is going to turn out all right.” This is simply part of the journey.
Over the years I have discovered that much of my struggle to be content despite out side circumstances has arisen when I stubbornly resisted what was actually happening in my life at the present moment. But I have learned that when I surrender to the reality of a particular situation–when i don’t continue to resist, but accept– a softening in my soul occurs. Suddenly I am able to open up to receive all the goodness and abundance available to be because acceptance brings with it so much relief and release.” (It’s called GRACE. me)
“Whatever situation exists in your life right now, accept it. Cast a glance around and acknowledge what is going on. This is my tiny kitchen with the dirty floor, this is how much I weigh, this is my checking account balance, this is where I am right now. This is that is really happening in my life at the present moment. this is okay. This is real life.”
Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life as they exist. Natalie Goldberg
“After accepting our present circumstances, no matter what they are, we must learn to bless them.
Through your gritted teeth if necessary.
. . . blessing whatever vexes us is the spiritual surrender that can change even troublesome situations for the better. Blessing the circumstances in our lives also teaches us to trust. ”
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:32-33 (my addition)
Embracing Joyful Simplicities
Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities. —Woman’s Home Companion, December 1935
” To keep our daily round from being all drudgery, we’ve got to savor the art of the small: discovering diminutive delights that bring us peace and pleasure.”
This is a daybook, meaning there is a reading for each day. I haven’t read through the whole book. I go to parts of it now and then; my book is very underlined and written in, thoughts and scriptures, question marks and exclamation points. As with everything, I take what I can use and let the rest be. There are other exercises in the book that I had fun with these caused me to think about who I am and what I like, what I wanted in life. I have enjoyed the journey thus far. If you get the book, I’d suggest reading the section at the end of each month; these lists give ideas of how to incorporate the book’s ideas into the month.
I think I’ll start reading it again this year, so expect snippets in ‘what’s on my mind.’
This book is still on the book store shelves. I haven’t looked for it in used book stores, but it is probably there too.
Thanksgiving 2011, Redding CA
The Farmer’s family tradition is to meet together the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and stay there until Saturday morning. The location has rotated between the parent’s or siblings’ homes and of late at campgrounds. We have celebrated this reunion in Laton, CA, Sunnyvale, CA, Medford, OR, Greeley, Co, Oxnard, CA, Redding, CA, Carmichael, CA, Portland, OR, Diamond Arrow Campground, Nevada City, CA and Del Oro Salvation Army Campground, Nevada Cit, CA.
We have stayed in family homes, friends homes, cabins, motels, and RV’s.
This year we were at Redding, CA. Uncle W and Aunt S were the hosts. We used their church facilities for our gathering.
We usually have 30-50 for Thanksgiving dinner. When the dinner was held in homes, the hostess of the home was in charge of food and the organization and the preparation. As we have gone to the campgrounds, Aunt E and I have assumed that responsibility.
A couple weeks before Thanksgiving, Aunt E and I plan the menu. SHE does the shopping for food and paper products. We cook and pack and try to allow for the unexpected. Everyone is to bring desserts. ( A basket is available to receive contributions toward food costs.)
We all make a concerted effort to attend, mother, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, friends, friends of friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, out-laws and significant others.
Thanksgiving equals planning, laughter, work, fun, tears, laughter, quiet times, overwhelming times, much good food, enough desserts it takes three meals (at least) to try them all, co-operation, family singing, laughter, story telling, expounding on important current or not so current events, knitting, laughter, quilting, embroidery, target shooting, cave exploring, boat riding, many hands sharing the load, shopping excursions, Disneyland, laughter, catching up, watching kids grow, missing those who are gone, comparing electronics, laughter, snacks, jigsaw puzzles, skip bo, uno, 5 crowns, may i, early to bed (for some) and early up for most, tie dying, and Grandma C’s lists of everyone who attended.
It this doesn’t sound like fun, you just don’t understand real fun.
I know what your question is — “How do I get an invitation?”
Adjusting to Change
It has been a very quiet week on the blog.
The Farmer has been doing a lot of reading about nutrition and has decided that it will be more healthy for him to eliminate grains and sugar from his diet. Now you have to know the Farmer to understand that deciding to eat or not to eat something is fairly easy for him. As he says ‘I eat to live, not live to eat.’ The plus for me: it is very easy to cook for him.The minus: denying myself favorite foods is very hard for me, as I view and use food differently.
For a little over a year now he has been trying different eating styles; no red meat, chicken or pork just fish, back to eating meat but small portions, lots of raw veggies, now no sugar or grain, lots of veggies, heavy on the raw variety, low on the glycemic scale.
I am having to rethink 40+ years of meal planning. I am still trying to figure our what this new eating plan looks like.
I’ve decided to join the Farmer. Huge Change.
I don’t even realize all that is involved. I can see value in making these changes from a health aspect for me. I don’t want to fanatical about not eating this or that, but I do want to be consistent. I want to be able to make conscience choices with out having to feel guilty because of the choice. I don’t want to make others feel uncomfortable around me.
At first, just thinking about the change brought immense fear of failure. the voice I knew so well chanted, I can’t do this, I just can’t do this. I still don’t understand how I was able to get up last Monday and begin. but, I did. I successful all day and all day Tuesday. As I prayed on Wednesday, the words came, “Thank you, Father, that I can do this” and I began to weep. I thought of the scripture:
Psalms 32:9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
which to me means. Don’t be like a horse or mule that the master must have bridle to lead them around, to cause them to do what is safe and good and profitable for the master. BUT submit to wisdom and decide ahead of time to obey.
Have I eaten 100% sugar and grain free this week? NO! It’s been about 90-95%.
Do I feel over overwhelmingly better? NO! This system has a lot of adjusting to do.
Have I changed my way of thinking about food? or the way I use it as an emotional crutch? NOT YET! Is there hope for change? I think so, possibly, but I don’t know what that feels or looks like – it’s a very dark place.
Writing helps . . . but chocolate tastes better!
All pictures were found by googling “eating pictures”, except candy picture googled “Hershey Kisses”.
Thoughts of Grace 