Quilt Show 2019, safely tucked away

Good morning Y'all!!!     I hope and pray that wherever y'all are today that you are blessed in this lovely day.    Today is a good day to feel the blessings of God and acknowledge them too.     Thank You God, for all the blessings that today holds and help me see them as such and help me to be grateful and thankful to be a part of such a lovely day!!    It is a little cooler in my neck of the woods and for that, I am grateful.    It was such a sweltering hot summer, so the cooler temps is a welcome change.

It's so funny, usually when I am working on a blog post, there is a flurry of activity taking place outside that I can hear.    This morning, there is nothing happening.     The birds are not even chirping.    I guess they are out gathering worms.    There is usually 4 or 5 lawn mowers doing their thing and weed trimmers going and dogs barking.   Nada, zilch, none of that taking place.   Just me coughing my head off.    hahahaha     But then again, most of the lawns look like ours, burned up, so there's no need for a lawn mower, right!   hahaha     Anyway, it's just an unusual morning with no outside activity.    It's so quiet, I think I could hear snow falling!!!    Oh, there is it!!!!   Those dreaded words!!!     SNOW!!!!!     Yes, we will be thinking about snow soon enough, so I wanted to put those words out there so it won't be such a shock one of these mornings.    hahaha

My little pots out on the deck still have a little produce in them, can you believe that?    I just about can't.     It has been so hot and dry that I had to keep everything watered and sometimes I think I was about drown my little tomatoes and peppers and then other times I was about to starve them to death, but I did enjoy the bounty of them this summer.    I hope to have more next year.    It's nice to go out and pick a tomato that you grew with your own two hands.    Even one tomato plant is a blessing.

So, I hope I can figure out more ways to have more produce next spring.    I really wish I didn't have allergies, that would help me so much.    But, since I deal with them, I have to limit my time outside.  I am actually dealing with allergies right now, even as I type.    I have been sick ever since the Quilt Show this past weekend and I can't say that I am feeling better, but I don't think it's getting worse.     I had gotten sick after the County Fair also.     The Quilt Show was in the fair building, so I'm thinking there is something in there that I'm allergic to.   So, it looks like I will be changing some of the activities that I love.     If it's gonna make sick, I have to ask myself, is it worth it, and right now, I can honestly say that it isn't worth being sick just to work in and participate in some of those activities.  We'll see.     That really saddens me, but I can't risk my health.   So that is the dilemma and we'll see how it plays out.

I mentioned the Quilt Show and I took a few pictures and wanted to share them with y'all.    I thought I had gotten a picture of everything, but I know I didn't.    We did have over 130 items entered this year.    Fewer large quilts and more smaller items and wall hangings and stuff like that.   We had 9 or 10 vendors this year.   That is the most vendors we've had.    I didn't take any pictures of the vendors, just the quilts that the community at large supplied for the show.

Well, I started this a couple of weeks ago and got sick, so here it is past the middle of October and I'm not any closer to getting pictures up than I was the day I started this blog post.   I'm gonna go ahead and just post this as is and hope I can get some pictures up later.    Remember in the busy-ness of each day that God loves us and Jesus is the door that allows us to be in right relationship with God.   I hope and pray that you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior today.   He is the best friend you'll ever have.   If you do know Him as your Lord and Savior, that makes us brothers and  sisters in Christ.  While we may never meet each other in this life, we will in the next life and that is pretty exciting to me.   I hope it is to you too.   Till next blog post, stay happy, healthy, and excited about the future.    God loves you, and so do I!!!   hugs and blessings, patty

Fair Update 2019

Hello one and all!!!     Here ye, here ye!!!!    How is that for a fine greeting this fine day???   hahaha  I hope that you all have had a fabulous time since the last time I shared an update.      We've had a little rain in my neck of the woods which has helped to cool things off a little.     And then of course it gets hot again.    Shucks, it's the middle of September and it's still in the mid to upper 90"s!!!!    WHAT???     Yes, you read that right.    hahaha    And of course, in August for Fair week, it always rains, right?      Well, it seems like it does in my neck of the woods.     I am happy that fair week has been tucked away in the history books.    While I do love all the hustle and bustle of it and just have an absolute blast working at the fair, it does take its toll on the old body.     There are many that work that are older than I, but I'm the only one that can  deal with my own aches and pains.     hahaha      Can't anyone do that for me and I wouldn't ask anyone to do it even if they could.      Jesus is the only One that can and has dealt with all my problems and He helps me on a daily basis.     Praise Him for that!!!

I did try to get lots of pictures during the fair, or that was my plan anyway.     But even the best plans can go awry and mine did.     At times, I forgot to take pictures, at other times, I just didn't want to mess with taking pictures, at any rate, I didn't get a lot, but will gladly share what I did get.    So here it is well into September, mid way to be exact, and I'm getting around to updating.    I'm slow, but I usually get it done, sometime.     hehehe     I didn't take as many pictures at the fair as I had intended, but I did get a few.

This is a baby quilt that I got done this year.    I actually started it 20+ years ago.   These are the sample blocks that I had made when I did actually make 2 baby quilts way back then for my nieces who was expecting.    I sewed samples of each block and then tweaked the colors or what ever I needed to do to get the right.    I had put them in a plastic shoe box and forgot about them.   Several years later, I pulled them out and sewed the white onto the the pieces and made the quilt top.   I actually serged all all the block and strips together.   When someone seen if before I had actually put it together and made the quilt they said "I didn't know you could use a serger to piece your quilt top."  I said, "Well, I didn't know you couldn't use a serge to piece a quilt top."   If it works, it works!!!  And it worked.   hahaha   There is another blog post about this.   It is either late last year, or early this year.

This is a little slat that I turned into a beachy scene.   I really liked the finished item and other did too.   I wish I had given perspective in the picture.    It's about 7 inches long and about 3 inches wide.  I am going to make 2 more just like that with different shells on them to finish the wall scene.

This was my string of red cayenne peppers.    It was just a fluke that I even entered them.    I knew there was several red peppers, but I didn't think I had enough for the string of 20 that we was to have in order to enter them.    One of my friends said to put the ones that had a little green on them on the string anyway and they would be turned red by judging time and she was right.   So I was pretty happy with this.

This is my cruise bracelet that I made earlier for my Mom, 2 friends and myself after we got back from our cruise last September.    I was pleased with this and so was everyone else.

This was a banner that I made earlier in the year at one of county FCE (Family Community Education) clubs craft night.   I didn't get finished with it at the event, so I took the supplies need to finish and I added my own stuff to it and I was pretty happy with it too.

This is an item that I had made last year at the same event, but it got misplaced and I didn't find it until about a month before the fair and I asked someone about it, since it was more than a year old.  The person I asked, asked me if there was any way I could "finish" it.   So I did.   I finished it with the USA scrabble tiles and it turned out really cute.

This is a paper weight that I made from sculpey clay and a starfish stamp.    I stamped the starfish into the clay and cut around the clay then water colored it with light colors and it is really pretty then I took a flat backed marble that I painted on the back of and got a crackle effect and glued that to the top of the starfish cutout.   I then glued all that to the top of a piece of heavy craft board covered with sheer purple paper.   The final product is quite nice and people seemed to like it a lot.

This is my denim rolled bead necklace.   I was pleased with the outcome of it. 

This is a flat backed marble with an image from a napkin adhered to the back and the a pin back adhered to that to make a nice pin.   I really like this one a lot and was pleased with the outcome.

This one has a story behind it and I almost forgot about it, but I seen it hanging on the wall in my craft room and took it to the fair.    Several years ago my friend and I was at a semi local christian studio broadcasting station.    The gift shop on the premises was open and we went in browsing around.   It was something that we just loved to do.    She said you got to come here and see this purse.    I looked at it and fell in love with it but I knew I could never afford it.   It was about $80.   And there was NO way I could do that.   She said check on it.   Go see what the price is, it may be on sale.   Just to please her, I did and it was on a clearance of a lifetime!!!!!  I got the purse for less than $5!!!!!!   It was one that you wore across your body.   About 9 inches wide and 9 inches long with about 4 inch fringe across the bottom.   And it was PURPLE!!!!!   Hey, everyone who knows me knows I love purple!!!   hahahaha   This big crystal encrusted cross was on the front of it and I LOVED it!!!!    I packed if for several years until it started coming apart.   I laid it aside.    I didn't want to throw it away.    I needed to salvage that cross as a reminder of my very sweet friend and sister in Christ.    Sometime after I got the purse, she got sick and in December of 2015 she went home to be with our Jesus and this is the one thing that I had as a reminder of her and our love for our Savior.   The lace on it is also a reminder of our worship of our Savior.    So, while I dreaded having this piece that was so personal to me judged, I was very pleased with the outcome and happy that others seen value in this piece without knowing the back story.

This is all the pieces that I entered in the fair that placed.    I had 2 or 3 items that didn't place and I forgot to take pictures of my clinkers although I said I would.    I just didn't bother with them.    Like I said earlier, this fair wore me out and I'm still not fully recovered from it and started getting a sinus infection towards the end of fair week and I'm still suffering with that.   If it's not one thing, it's 14 more.   hahaha     I told my sweet husband that sometimes it feels like I'm being pecked to death by a baby chicken.    Just slow, steady, continuous and painful.    hahaha     But, this too shall pass and it will be something else pecking me to death.    hahahaha

I missed several appointments immediately after our fair that I had been signed up to do and I really hate that so much.    I just have had to prioritize situations and my health is at the top of my list these days.    It's getting easier and easier to say no to things that I would like to do, but I know that it will be a struggle  for me if I do it.

On an up side, I did have a couple of lunch dates with friends that truly was a blessing for me and I'm thrilled that I felt up to it.   No matter how bad I may feel, if I can have some "sister in Christ" time, that is always a blessing.   Just to be able to uplift one another and share in each others joys is such a wonderful thing to do.

I hope that you all have people that you love and enjoy spending quality time with.   People that you know have a "healing" effect on you and not make you cringe at the thought of spending time with them.    I just don't have much time for that anymore.   I have become more and more picky about whom I choose to spend time with.   If it's a chore, I'm not gonna do it anymore.    If I feel like I'm being looked down upon, not doing it.    If I feel like I'm being judged, not doing it.    If it's something I dread doing, not doing it.    You see where I'm going with this.   hahaha     If it's not conducive to better health, I'm not doing it. 

Well, that's about all I have you this update.    I hope you seen or read something that you enjoyed.   If you did, share it with someone you think would enjoy it too.     I hope you check out some local fairs in your areas this fall and see what some of the latest crafts are.    I hope you pieces of craft work that brings you wonderful special memories of wonderful special people in your lives.    I hope you make good choices for yourself regarding your health.   That is something that no one else can do for you.   You have to be large and in charge of your own health and regulate who gets your time and who doesn't get your time.   That's one of the ways to maintain your health.   Toxic people are toxic to your health.    I hope and pray that you know that you are loved more than you could possibly know, by Jesus Christ.    The only way to have right relationship with the Father, is thru the shed blood of the Son, Jesus Christ.    Jesus already paid the cost for you, you just have to receive and accept the free gift of salvation.    I am one of those Christians that know I am in desperate need of Jesus Christ, sharing with you, the fact that you too are in desperate of Jesus Christ.   I hope and pray that if you haven't already received the free gift of salvation, that today would be the day.    Love, hope, peace and prayers for each and every one of y'all.    God loves y'all and so do I!!!    patty

Just a quick update, Do you make a difference?

Good morning Y'all!!!    Hope and pray that wherever y'all are that you are having a most lovely day so far.    It seems like all I say, "It's hot in my neck of the woods", but it sure is.    It's to be in the mid to high 90's this week and it's Fair time here in my neck of the woods.    It's always hot and sometimes it rains.   Sure enough, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are supposed to be wet!!!   Go figure.    Oh well, it won't bother me too much, I'll be inside with all the fair entries.  Yay!!!    Today, we receive all the lovely items, Monday the judges come, Tuesday is baked goods judging.   It's always a blast!!   I really look forward to Fair activities.   3 late afternoons and early evenings, I'll be a sitter in the arts and crafts area.   I do have about 13 entries for this year, fewer than the past, but I'm just excited to have that many.   I know some of my articles, was just thrown together and some of them, I worked really hard on, so we'll see.   At any rate, it will be points for my small Family Community Education club through the County Extension office.    I will have 2 entries this year that I have never had before and I'm kinda excited about that!!!    I have a cayenne pepper plant in a pot on my deck and it has produced well!!!   So I'll have a string of red pepper with 20 pods on it and I'll have an entry of 6 hot peppers.   Like I said earlier, probably won't garner any ribbons, but it will be points for my club.  So, I'm already thinking ahead of what I may have to enter next year.   I wish my yellow baby bell peppers would have produced enough to have specimens to enter.   But I only get one at a time, but they are delicious anyway.

So, if you get the opportunity this late summer and early fall to go to a local county fair, go and check out the farm, garden and arts and crafts areas.    There will be lots to see and you may get lots of ideas and inspiration for your own gardens or ideas for your crafts adventure.   I am anxious to see local honey and honeycomb, all the large winter squashes and watermelons and all the different clubs and their displays.   I will try to remember to take pictures to be shared later.    I will take pictures of my entries, the winners, if there are any and the clinkers alike.   hahaha

This is the time of year too, that my mind races back to childhood and the wonderful event of squeezing sorghum stalks and making sorghum.    Back in the early days of my blog, I shared at least 2 posts about those experiences as a child,   They will be in the first calendar year of my blog, if you are interested in the stories about that.    I wish there was places to go that you could still see the process in action.    From the squeezing to the cooking to the bottling.    It's a beautiful and satisfying thing to see happen before your own eyes.

I think about pumpkins and sweet potatoes too, it's just that time of year.    I'm not as crazy about pumpkin pie as I am sweet potato pie.    Sweet potato bread is delicious too!!!   You make it just like you make pumpkin bread, just substitute sweet potato in place of pumpkin.   It works and it's delicious.   

What are some of things that you look forward to this upcoming Fall?    I would love to know and have you share what you look forward to each year.

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Y'all know I share here about several different things here on my blog.     This is my place to share what I feel the need to share, for my benefit and the benefit of others.    The writing below is what I shared on fb and thought it would be good to share it here too.    I know some of my readers are not in the United States, but you may gain some benefit too.    Like I said, this is my opinion, based on actual life events and it's really not up for debate.   It's what happened and it's what is.    Nothing anyone can say, can change the outcome, so it's a non-debatable situation.    So, if you are game, read on:

I worked in a factory for many years.   My husband worked in the next town in the sister factory.    It was in the garment industry.    For many years we proudly sewed labels in each item of clothing we made that said "Made in America".    I remember at the same time, our walmart proudly hung banners in the store in our town that said "We support American Made".    Yay!!!!    Eventually, we quit sewing the labels in the garments and eventually, walmart took their banners down.    Eventually, the places that my husband and I worked at was CLOSED because the garment industry went south by way of NAFTA to Mexico. 

Before the plants that we worked at closed, my husband had been promoted in the company and that meant a change of state.    We got settled in out new state and he got settled in his new job.    He was a mechanical design engineer, designing and building new machines.    His job took him to different places and one of those places was Mexico.    The plants that we both had worked in was still open but half of the production of both plants had been sent to Mexico.    Neither of us liked it, but, he went where they sent him.    In the backs of everyone's minds, we thought the inevitable would happen, but then we would say "surely not". 

One morning, a few years later, he was on the phone with the plant manager in Mexico, making plans to go down and look at a machine.    My husband went to lunch at 12 noon.    Promptly at 1 pm, he was called into his bosses office and told he had 1 hour to get his office cleaned out and leave the premises.    There was 18 thousand people in the mega company that lost jobs that day between 1 and 2 pm.    My husbands job was not a "white collar" position and he didn't make white collar pay.    All 18 thousand employees that lost their jobs that day was people like him and on up to white collar positions.    And no one heard anything about it on tv!!!    Oh yeah, and about a year before he lost his job, the plants that we both had previously worked in, 10 years prior, had been shuttered and boarded up.    So, I couldn't tell you how many total employees that this company fired all because they shipped our jobs out of the states. 

Starting over at 50 is not easy!!!    Lots of us broke our backs and damaged our lungs only to be treated worse than the lint swept up and discarded on a daily basis.    So, while I do support and buy American made, when possible, I will not pay more for an inferior product.    If I can buy "American made" with a lower price, I will.    But we all know that doesn't happen too often. And I am old enough to remember when "Made in America" really and truly meant something.    It meant you WOULD pay more for a product, because it was a GREAT product.    That's just not so today. So what I take away from this whole story is damaged lungs, damaged wrists, damaged ankles and damaged hips, only for the people that we worked with to be treated worse than dogs.    So, if I seem a bit apprehensive about this, it's because I am. 

While I love The United States of America, until all workers are treated fairly and companies quit taking jobs away from us, I remain skeptical.    I was blessed to born in the greatest country on the face of the planet, but when the govt, for the last 30-40 years have wasted their time giving HUGE tax breaks to companies, only for them to turn around and stab the employees in the back, then it's time to clean house, not only in the govt but also in the corporations that are sending jobs out of the states.    So, while one would think I should support Made in America, and I do to an extent, I support the piddling money that we live on now, more than I support the Made in America logo.    We can't afford to buy Made in America.    Some say you can't afford not to.    When you know you only have so much money each month to live on, you learn to make decisions based on your checkbook which is the reality you live with. 

So, if Made in America is ever going to mean anything again, it will be up to you all to do that.    It will mean taking your jobs seriously.    It will mean standing up for your job.    It will mean standing up for the job of your coworker.     It will mean putting in the hours to earn your paycheck.    It will mean actually earning your paycheck.    And all of this can be done, even without a union.    A person that wants to work for their paycheck doesn't need to pay union dues, they need to work, not have a clause that says they can't be fired, or if you are a lousy worker, and you need to be fired but the union says you can't be fired.    That's not fair to the hard workers beside you!!!    It will mean giving input about things that you see with your eyes that are not right. 

I know what I'm talking about, because from the statements up above, about taking your job seriously on down, I done all of those things.    I took my job seriously enough to risk losing it for a coworker who was being treated unfairly.    I stood up for my job on more than one occasion.    I worked hard for the paycheck I brought home!!    I told my superiors when I seen things with my own eyes that should be or not be happening.    I didn't shut up till action was taken.    I was a good employee.    I helped others.    More importantly, I made a GREAT "Made in America" product, only for it to be ripped from us and shipped to Mexico.    I hope you all can make "Made in America" mean something again.    Your future depends on it. 

I don't have many more days ahead of me, but some of you are just starting in your jobs/careers, so I would suggest developing a work ethic that is better than any paycheck you will ever earn.    Put the hours in.    Work hard.    Not for the company you work for, work hard for yourself.    Don't act like anyone owes you anything and if someone does owe you, know that it was earned.    I know this is long, but I also know that someone will glean something from this.    Probably make people mad too, but this is the shoes my husband and I have walked in.    And until you have been there and done that, there's not much that can be said. 

Work hard, earn your paycheck, do GOOD work, make GOOD products and make "Made in America" mean something!!!!!    Please!!!    Oh, and before I sign off, my husband did find another job and he worked there for 17 years until poor management and the union ran them in the ground and that company went belly up and shuttered their doors the middle of 2018.    So every word I've said comes from hard experience.    If the union had never come in to that place, it would still be open.    Because they were forced by the union to keep employees making between 60 and 80 K a year, several employees!!!    That is why I said "earn your paychecks"!!!!    Don't be some of the ones that have a job just because the union saves your bacon every time you point out!!!    Earn you paychecks!!!!    And just so you know, my husband never paid a penny of union dues, he worked hard, he earned his paycheck and he got ridiculed over working hard!!!!!    75% of the people he worked with can't say that.    Just know, you play a part in the success or failure of the company you work for.    Work hard, earn your paycheck, produce good quality goods!!!! pjg-08-15-19

So, where ever you are, what ever country you live in, you play a huge part in the success or failure of the company you work for.    If you are still in the workforce, it's up to you to do your job well.

There is a scripture in the bible that say to work as though you are working for the Lord!!!

Colossians 3:23 niv    "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

That's how my husband and I always worked, as though we were working for the Lord.    It makes a difference when you work as though you are working for the Lord.   And the Lord is faithful!!!   He has seen us through trying times and He will again!!!   He has met every need we've ever had and I know He will meet your needs.   Give Him 100% of each work day and let Him help you!!!!   If you've never tried, I challenge you to change your perspective and attitude about what you do and who you are doing it for.    It can make a difference at the end day knowing that you done a good job, you worked hard, and you earned your pay for that day.    There's not many in the work places that can actually say that.    Be one of the few who can say it.    Be one of the few who make a difference.

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Well, that's about all I have for this update.   I hope you read something here that inspires you to look for a County Fair or maybe sign up to put entries in or maybe even grow a garden so you can enter next year.    Look for fresh, farm made Sorghum when you are out and about and you can use that is some of your fall pies and breads as the sweetener, plus sorghum is loaded with "good for you" vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, another reason to get some.   I hope where ever you live and whatever your job is, that you are a good employee and an asset to the work environment, if not, maybe this will inspire you to be a better employee.    I just hope that you seen something here that you can benefit from.     Just know that the Lord is waiting to help you and the He loves you enough to want to be in right relationship with Him thru the shed blood of Jesus Christ.    That, my friend, is Love!!!     hugs and love and may blessing fall upon you as you strive to serve the Lord today.   patty

Middle of July check-in, more Pictures and How you see God

Oh happy day Y'all!!!!   I sure hope and pray that y'all are doing good this fine day!!!    We had a good storm roll thru my neck of the woods last evening and it looks a little rainy this morning.    We have had some rainy times this summer.    I was at the back door yesterday evening when the storm started rolling in.   The wind was blowing pretty hard and it was blowing leaves from the trees at the back of our property and it was so beautiful!!!!    It looked like it was snowing leaves.   It was just so beautiful!!!!    I just stood there watching the leaves float to the ground effortlessly, just enjoying the view until the Lord told me it was time to shut the door with a huge bolt of lightening and the loud crash of thunder.    Some things I don't have to be told twice.    hahaha     Then the rain came and rained hard for quite a long time.    It perked up my little deck garden.    I have 5 pots of tomatoes, 2 pots of peppers, a hot pepper and a sweet pepper and a pot of onions.   Haven't gotten any onions because the birds feast on them daily.    I really don't like feeding the birds with my little garden! They ate a lot of my tomatoes, but they seemed to have stopped that, for now anyway.    I'm really not much of a gardener.   I would love to be, but the outdoors don't like me much, but I have figured out how I can have a few fresh tomatoes and cayenne peppers.    Hopefully, I can branch out and have more next year.   I just love having fresh tomatoes grown with my own 2 little hands!!!!   I will save my pots and soil from this year for next year and add to the soil and maybe even add some more pots.    What would really help would be to have some partial shade for my little garden, but if I get an umbrella for the deck, it just becomes a haven for wasps and I sure don't like those!!!!   I would like to get one of little 10 foot x 10 foot canopies that you see people sitting up at farmers markets and the like.     I could set one of those on my deck and tie it down, but I have 2 different levels of entrance to the house from my deck.   One entrance is level with the deck and main back door entrance is one step up and think that step would make it too low for us enter the utility room.  Something else I just thought of right now is that it would block 2 of our security cameras and I don't want to do that.   Maybe I can figure something out for some shade.     I hope so anyway.

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How you see God will determine how you pray to God.    Prayer is a general term.     How do you pray?    Learn to pray specific prayers for the specific needs.     They don't have to be long prayers, just specific prayers.    The authority in which you pray, will determine the power of your prayer.    If you see Father God as a big teddy bear or a grandfather in the sky, your prayers may be shallow.     If you see Father God as everything He says He is, then you will have a whole toolbox or arsenal of authority and power at the end of your breath.    

This is a short list of some of the names and attributes of God:

Adonai – Lord, Master (Genesis 15:2)

El Elyon – The Most High God (Genesis 14:18-20)

El Olam – The Everlasting God (Isaiah 40:28-31)

El Roi – The Strong One Who Sees (Genesis 16:13)

El Shaddai – Lord God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)

Elohim – God of Power and Might (Genesis 1:1)

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:13:14)

Jehovah Mekoddishkem – The Lord Who Sanctifies You (Exodus 31:13)

Jehovah Nissi – The Lord My Banner/Victory (Exodus 17:15)

Jehovah Raah – The Lord My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

Jehovah Rapha – The Lord That Heals (Exodus 15:26)

Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts (Isaiah 1:24)

Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24)

Jehovah Shammah – The Lord Is There/Present (Ezekiel 48:35)

Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)

Yahweh – Lord, Jehovah (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Qanna – Jealous God (Exodus 20:5)

This is some of the names and the meanings of those names and the place to find it in the Bible.  I think in studying this list, you will find that the God we serve is far greater than a big teddy bear in the sky or even a grandfather type.    God is a Holy God and expects to be treated as such.    We can go boldly to the Throne of God, only thru the Blood of Jesus Christ.    I think we have lost reverence for Father God and we need to get back to revering Him and worshiping Him in a reverent manner instead of the flippant way that we all have been guilty of in the past.    Look at those names and meditate on them and search for more descriptive words for God in the Bible, you will see that they all represent an all powerful God!!! 

God has proven Himself to be my El Roi!!!   And I love that attribute of my Father God.    He has seen me all the days of my life.    Recognizing that God has seen me thru the worst days of my life and provided many wonderful days in my life as well, has changed my attitude toward Him.    I know that God is always there.    I know that no matter how bad something is, He sees me.    I know that even thru the worst days of my life God has held my hands, and He still does that for me.    God proven Himself to be my Elohim, God of power and might!!!     He is the One, the only One who can shut door and open doors.   He is the only One who can battle the enemy.    If anyone truly loves God and has the desire to worship and serve Him on His terms, then God will show Himself to you in a very real way!!!!   God has proven Himself to be all these and more in my life.    There are more names that represent Him and His characteristics.   Search them out and see how He has made Himself known to you in your life.    

Remember too, that it doesn't require big and lofty prayers to reach God.    A simple one or two sentence prayer is enough.    When you are praying for others, just simple prayers are more than adequate to reach the heart of God.    Some people may be uncomfortable with a long drawn out prayer, so keep is short and to the point and move on.   God knows your heart and He knows what you are asking before you ask it.    So, if you are with someone who is a little uncomfortable with prayer in the first place, then do a "hit and run", one or two sentence prayer and let God do the rest and then move on.    That person will know you cared enough to pray, but also that you cared enough to not make them uncomfortable and you have also opened a door for you to minister to them again, or for someone else to minister to them.    A short prayer can be a great ice breaker.   It's also putting action to our words.    A lot of times we will say "I'll be praying for you", and that's ok, but maybe saying a short prayer like "Father, please meet the health needs of my friend.  Thank You for what we know You will do. Amen", will prove to them what you are willing to do and then you can continue to pray for them in your private prayers.   

A simple, quiet prayer can be said anywhere, at work, at school, at the grocery store, at the dr office, wherever there is a need.    You don't want to put your job in jeopardy, be smart about it, but where there is a need, God is there and will hear that prayer.   Those simple prayers may lead others to start praying too.    We need to set the examples wherever we go and be willing to say a short prayer for whatever the situation.   We don't want to be obnoxious, we want to be sincere, short and to the point.  We have a toolbox full of the names of God that provide more than enough power to meet the needs of the hurting world around us.   Let us make the effort to use the tools that God has given us.  I hope you will join me in this effort to help the needs right where they are.

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Just wanted to share pics for your viewing pleasure.   Hope you enjoy some of the sights and scenery around my neck of the woods.

 Just a lovely dandelion in full bloom.

An earth worm crawling across the mud covered trail on our greenway.  Most of the time they dry up in the sun before they make it across.

This is some thistle in full bloom.   I think it is beautiful.

This is a morning glory with a bee inside it.

This is our feet.  Mine and my husbands.   We make a pretty great pair.

 I am all about texture when I take pictures and this has lots of texture in it.

The root system of this tree has lots of texture too, just beautiful.

 And this, well, this is a picture of my heart.   hahaha    A perfect leaf heart!!!  Love it!!!

 This is a beautiful wild flower.    I just love these and there are a lot of these at the right time.

This was just a simple leaf on another simple leaf, but it spoke to me and I had to shoot it.

This is some more lovely texture.   I just love old gnarly roots and rotted holes and this one fits the bill.   hahaha    Hope you enjoyed this little sampling of pictures that I take when we are out and about.

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That's about all I have today.   I just wanted to check in for a minute.     If you read something here that was a blessing to you, please share it with someone else.    I hope you have a blessed rest of the day and remember that God loves you enough to provide a way to be in right relationship with Him thru the shed blood of Jesus Christ.   Remember too, that Christ is the only way to the Father.    Others will tell you differently, but Jesus Himself said that He is the only way!!!    Do not be led astray, Jesus is the only way to the Father.    Thanks for stopping by today, be blessed!!!   love and hugs, patty

Summer, It's Hot, and I'm Not a Happy Camper....hahahaha

Good morning wonderful people, from my "HOT" neck of the woods.    The title just about explains is all.   hahahaha     Truth be known, I'm not much on camping anyway, so I'll be just fine.    hahahaha     I do hope that where ever y'all are on this big beautiful globe, that y'all happy, healthy, and cool.    When it turns summer, it does it with a vengeance around here.    We have had some pretty bad weather in my parts, but by the grace of God, it wasn't as bad as it could have been.    Minimal structure damage to homes and out buildings, but lots of downed trees in residential areas.    That's the main concern, trees coming down on homes.    But there wasn't a lot of that.   Of course, if you happen to be one of the few who did have structural damage, then it is really bad, and it is.    I keep saying that as bad as it has been, it could really have been so much worse.   We all have much to be thankful for.

This was the temperature on my deck yesterday at 1:47 pm and it felt hotter than that!!!     Yup, 102*!!!!     That's hot in these parts.      The way this summer is rolling, we may see  more of these extremely hot days.     Really can't say that I look forward to it.     Just thankful that we have air conditioning, seriously.      Like we say in the winter, if you have elderly or disabled neighbors, check on them during these hot spells, you could save someones life.

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We just got thru with our Cultural Arts and Fashion Review in my County this week, thru the Extension Office.    All the 1st and 2nd place winners will go to the Regional Cultural Arts later on in the year.   It was a fun event.     It think there was 34 in attendance and it was good turn out and lots of beautiful entries in the Cultural Arts.   I actually had 10 items entered and 7 placed.   5 items got 1st place, 1 item got 2nd place and 1 item got 3rd place.    Much better than I had expected, so that is always good.    Click on the pictures and bring up the larger picture to see them better.     I think most everything gas been shared on my blog before, but not with wins attached.   hehehe    Wish they gave ribbons like they used to, but they don't.   We'll get a certificate with out wins on it.      It's ok, but not like the ribbons.    How vain is that?      Ok, the certificate is perfect.   One thing, easy to keep up with and I can place pictures of my wins on  the back.     Ok, that is a good plan.   I can move forward now.     hahaha    Vanity outsmarted once again.    woop woop, yay!!!!!

This is all my jewelry in one pic.   Everything but the four bracelets in the upper left corner got 1st place.   Those 4 got 3rd place. 

My machine embroidered baby quilt got 1st place.   It's not technically a quilt because it is hand tied with grosgrain ribbon and buttons.  

This is a mixed pic too, my USA banner did not place, but my Dandelion color pic took 2nd place and my Treebark and fungi black and white took 1st place.   I was stunned, but so thrilled they won.  I took these pics on the greenway here in our town.    Just out on a walk and I got winners on one trip. I was so happy!!!

This is a close-up of my Cruise charm bracelet .  The beads are from an itinerary from the last cruise that my Mom and I went on with some friends that are also family back in Sept of 2018.   Most of the charms are charms that we got in our ports of calls.    I was thrilled it won 1st place.

This in my four piece cuff bracelet made from a UPS ad that came thru the mail.   The first set I made, I donated to a non-profit.   This is a second set that I made later.    It earned 3rd place in re-purposed category.     Happy about this win too.   The ad was sand and browns on one end and blues on the other end.    I cut it in two where the colors were distinct and cut my strips then and made my beads.    Then I put czech beads between each rolled bead. 

This is my sculpted jewelry made from denim.    It earned 1st place.     It is also strung with czech beads between my sculpted beads.

This is my 2 inch canvas pin and it won second place in the Jewelry category.    I made this and taught a class on this last year and one of the other ladies won 2nd place.     These are so fun to make.  There are no rules when crafting.

I have been thinking a lot about what I do in the way of crafts.   I don't do anything in a spectacular fashion, NOTHING!!!!   That is for sure and I know it.    But when I craft, I do the best I can to step out of the box!!!     I don't want to be boxed in.    I don't want anyone else to be boxed in either.    I try to craft like there are no rules.     I've had people tell me, "You can't do that."     I do my best to show them that I can do that.     I do my best to turn the word "can't" in to craft.    Put a "r" after "c", take the "n" out and replace it with an "f" and take the " ' " out and you have turned "can't" in to "craft".    That's how easy it is to think outside the box.     I believe that every craft has value, skill and takes talent.    I think I shared about a project taking place in our state once a year about teaching and training us how to be judges for fairs and festivals and arts.    I have been taking those classes.   I've done it for the last 2 years and I look forward to the years to come.     Learning is a key to crafting.    Learning is a key to do the best you can do.  

If you get the opportunity to step outside the box in your crafting, jump for it and don't look back.    You will not be sorry.     Don't take can't for an answer.    Prove that you can.    Think differently.    Look for ways to better yourself.    Look for ways to better your skills.    Whatever you, make it your own with your flare added to it.    My main goal with encouraging you is to get you to understand that there REALLY are no rules, some people want you to think there is, but there isn't.   Just do YOU and have fun!!!!    Our County Fair will be coming up towards the end of August and then in October will be our 4th annual Quilt Show.     Lots of stirring taking place.

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I have also been enjoying some of the tomatoes from my deck garden.    I have tomatoes, peppers and onions.    The tomatoes are plentiful.     The peppers and onions haven't started producing yet.    They may not do much, because it is so hot.   we'll just have to wait and see.    But the tomatoes are delish!!!!!!

I have been doing quick and easy meals again in my electric pressure cooker (epc).      I keep Wishbone Italian Salad Dressing (WISD) on hand as a marinade.      I get chicken tenders or boneless pork chops or even beef roast and put the meat in a freezer ziploc bag and pour the "WISD" over the meat in the bag and toss in freezer.   When I'm ready to fix a meal, I put a 16 oz bag of frozen beans or peas of some kind it the bottom of my epc, then put a frozen bag of my meat on top of the beans.     Next, I put my rack in on top of the meat and put my peeled and quartered potatoes on top of the rack, then put peeled and quartered carrots on top of potatoes and if I have any whole squash, I cut both ends off squash and put that on top of the carrots, and then toss in a couple of ears of corn.  Make sure there is at least a cup of liquid, preferably more, possibly 2 cups, since the beans will soak up some of the liquid while cooking.    Season everything the way you want to season it, but don't over season it to begin with, you can add more when it's done, and put the lid on and cook for the duration your epc says to cook the meat and everything else will cook in that amt of time.    When it's done, quick release, remove the lid and let it all sit for about 10 minutes and then remove the layers to different bowls or a platter.    The beans and meat will be absolutely delicious!!!!    Plus the potatoes will have taken on some of the "WISD" flavors and will also be yummy!!!      This is one easy and quick meal that we love so much and look forward to having.

Hope you enjoyed this quick little cooking segment.     I am always on the lookout for easy meal prep and I came up with this one several years ago and it still proves to be a favorite with us.

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I hope you enjoyed your time with me today.     I hope you seen something here that will inspire you to think outside the box.     I just hope you go away with the encouragement to try something new or different in a new or different way.     I hope you can say that the box does not contain you any more.   That box isn't large enough to hold creativity.    I hope you will encourage those around you with the same idea.    Boxes are for toting  and carrying items in, not for containing our creativity.   Think outside the box!!!  This is my quote that I just came up with and I like it!!!!     Hope you do too.

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Tell someone today that Jesus loved them enough to die for their sins.     He doesn't want us to continue living in those same sins.    Make no mistake, even after salvation, we continue to sin, because we have flesh bodies and we make mistakes.    But, when we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we have the Holy Spirit in us then to help us and to give a desire to do better.    The Holy Spirit is our ultimate teacher.    After all, on several occasions, Jesus told people to "go, and sin no more."     That tells me we are to do better and lay aside the life of sin that He saved us from.    So, when we tell people that Jesus loves them, that is true.    But He doesn't love our sin.   Our sin is why He chose substitutionary death, so we wouldn't be permanently separated from the presence of God.    There are several things that the Bible says that God abhors and some of those are people who do evil things.    We must know that.   If we know nothing else at all, we must know that God abhors sin and those who constantly and belligerently sin, with no regards to Him or those they sin against.    While the death of Jesus on the cross was enough to cover every persons sin, no matter how bad or how much, not everyone will make the choice to run to Jesus.    That is their choice.   So, while Jesus loved them enough to die on the cross for them, it is their choice to accept Him as Lord and Savior or go to hell.     We each make that choice of our own free will.   I can't make the choice for anyone other than myself.   If I could, I certainly would!!!   It's up to us though.   We either live for Christ or we live for the enemy.    We can't sit on the fence because the enemy owns the fence.     Jesus said we are either hot or cold.   Fence sitters are luke warm and He will spit them from His mouth.   Choose life in Christ.    Don't wait, make that choice today.    He is waiting to help you move forward in faith to believe that He is who He says He is!!!

Be blessed y'all and stay cool during the heat of summer.     Remember, God is waiting to have a relationship with you, but that only comes thru Jesus Christ.    hugs and love!!!    patty