Kreativ Blogger tag from LeLe.

Ok, I'll do it.

The Rules:
As an award recipient, I am asking you to do the following:
List seven things that you love and then pass the award on to seven bloggers that you love! Be sure to tag them and let them know they have won. You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard letting the whole world know...you are Kreativ!

1. Gardening. I'm in the process of redoing my front flower beds. I want something that is low maintenance, but I can add a splash of something new every Spring. It gives me a peace to be in the dirt and work towards creating something that will be pretty.

2. Reading. I love historical fiction with some romance thrown in. And I love fantasy/sci-fi. I also love to look at home decorating and craft magazines.

3. Painting. I've been trying to do a few things that I might be able to sell. Christmas stockings and such. I've been considering trying to make my own garden flags and I have a frame that needs an original painting. Still trying to decide just what to put in it.

4. Sewing. I have been thinking about creating some personalized items. Also thinking about getting back into cross stitching. When I had small children, I made probably half of their clothes. Especially LeLe. One Easter I made a frilly lavender dress for her, and a jumpsuit for Jared. I even painted on that for him.


This one was cross stitched.



I just finished hemming three pairs of pants for SR's great aunt who in Crown Point, an assisted living facility. At one time, I did this sort of thing for friends, and a little extra dough, but I'm not so crazy about that idea these days.

5. Cooking. I didn't used to like this much. But now that I have plenty of time and I'm not rushed, I actually enjoy cooking. Especially for a special occasion. LeLe's birthday is Monday. Woo hoo. Gonna try something new for that, Chicken Alfredo. Wish me luck.

6. Organization. I dislike clutter. I remember that years ago, when my kids were small, the house was full of little knick knacks. Some I bought, most I made. It was hard to dust and you couldn't really apreciate what was there, because there was just too much. Now I'm more of a "Less is more" person and you can actually see what I do have. I also have a hard time functioning in a space that is not clear and organized. Even when I was working, I would get all antsy and uptight if my workspace was unorganized.

6. Keeping a neat/clean house. I suppose this goes along with #6. I'm not the neat freak some people seem to think, but I do love a nice looking place that is not dirty. I wouldn't say I actually enjoy housework, but I love the results of a day of cleaning.

Design Issues

We've decided to take out the old ugly lava rock from our flower beds in front, and replace it with plants and ground cover. I've never been very good at designing gardens, I always just went with what I had at the time and made do. These are the two areas we will be working on.





We are leaving the azaleas and the cedar trees. And I have been thinking I would add a few hosta plants to the higher bed, along with some seasonal bedding plants and a ground cover. For the lower bed, I don't have a clue, except for some ground cover. We don't want to use cedar or wood mulch due to the fear of attracting termites. We already fight fire ants on a daily basis.

If this was your yard, what would you do??? Advice and suggestions coveted.

Revisiting

I meandered through some old posts. Sometimes you go back and think....what was I thinking to write that drivel?! Other times you think... man! Things sure have changed since I wrote that! I read my post of September 24, 2008. Have things changed since that post! Gee Whiz. I got my wish. I'm not working. It's as wonderful as I thought it would be, and it's as uncertain as I never thought it could be.

I try to be constructive each day. I try not to be a slug and sleep the morning away. I try to create something each day, and be productive. I have my quiet time when I read my Bible and talk with the Lord. I cook really good meals for a change. I haven't done that in longer than I can remember, and our waistlines bear witness to that. We have created a financial budget we are sticking to, and there is very little stress. I have sort of a pattern for the day and I enjoy my days. I don't dread them any longer. That's a terrible feeling, to wake each morning with a sense of dread and depression. Thank the Good Lord that's over. I absolutely love not having to get up at a certain time every morning and be somewhere. Hopefully, even if God brings another job to me, it won't be that way.

I have ideas I want to try, but there is no sense of urgency. I used to think about all the things I wanted to do if I had the time. Now I have it, and I am not driven to accomplish them. And that is fine. But......

Sometimes I fear that I will wind up losing myself. Occasionally, I need to interact with others. Occasionally, I need to get out into the world and see and talk and hear what is outside the walls of my home. I'm not sure how to do that aside from participating in church activities. I'm looking forward to warmer weather so I can get active. I do walk most days, but it doesn't give me the pleasure that working in the yard does. I'm sooo ready for Spring temperatures. That's what's great about seasons. Just about the time you think you can't stand another cold day, Spring warms you up. Or the heat is melting you and a cool Autumn breeze blows in. It makes you appreciate the blessings of the seasons.

Things have definitely changed since that post. For the most part, it's a good change.

Blooms in the Hood

Just a few shots I took late this evening, of the Bradford Pear trees and Redbuds in bloom, in my yard and the neighbor's across the way. I absolutely love this time of year when every week or so, a different type of flowering plant erupts into blooms and the heady fragrance fills the air. My Jonquils are dying back, and I'm anxious for something else to rise. The days have been unseasonably warm, but tomorrow will bring a cold cold front that will last for almost a week. We've had snow in March before, so in Arkansas, you never know what to expect, and you never take for granted that the season has changed.

Equal Time

I couldn't post about J's salvation experience, without posting something about LeLe's. She was young as well, being only 7. She talked it over with Bro. Harvill and I don't have all the specific details, but he came out of their meeting assuring us she was indeed saved. I have photos of LeLe's baptism. They are a bit grainy, since no one had heard of digital cameras, and the average Joe didn't own a high falutin' camera with a telephoto lens.


Entering the baptistry.


Going under.


Up she goes.
I'm reminded of that old hymn, Heaven Came Down.

Heaven came down and glory filled my soul,
When at the cross the Savior made me whole.
My sins were washed away,
And my night was turned to day.
Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.
Filled my soul!



God Bless you my children.

A Child's Heart

I was pondering ideas for posting. There really isn't much to write about, when you stay home most every day, except mundane day to day activities. And you can only take so much of that before you get burned out. I started thinking about ideas I had early on, and this came to mind.

J was just a little bitty thing when he asked Jesus into his heart. He was only 6 or so. I remember exactly how it happened and where. He had been talking about it for a while, and one night, tucked in bed, he wanted to do it. I explained how to ask Jesus to be your Savior, and I made it clear that he had to mean it, not just say it. He assured me in his childlike manner that he really did mean it and proceeded to ask Jesus into his heart. It was a thrilling thing for a mother to experience and yet it was so normal feeling. I'm not sure I can explain that. Just that a mother rejoices in her child's salvation, but it was as if it was just another evening where Christ was honored in our home. Does that make sense?

Not long after that, Jared took his pocket knife, and carved words into the planks, that made a very narrow porch at the end of our house. Jesus Christ by Jared. When we moved, we couldn't bear to leave it, so we took it off, and replaced it. We have it displayed in one of our bedrooms to remind us of the event. I'm not sure you can tell much from these photos, but I thought I'd try to post them and see.


This is the entire board. The words are not really obvious, but you can see it was weathered.


Jesus


Christ


By Jared

These are the things parents reminisce about in their old age.....

Quiet

It's been a very quiet time for me. I'm able to enjoy God's beautiful world, and His peace. I've been watching the birds in my backyard a lot. The squirrels try to steal the seeds, and I have to run them off every morning. I got some shots this morning though, of some of the more colorful visitors to my feeders.


Quite the showman eh? He seems to be posing for me.



Blue Jays are very quick, and I was able to get this just after he left the feeder. Looks like he's doing a little grooming.




This gentleman visits rarely. I've only seen him twice this winter, and Steve has seen him one other time.

My chickadees have disappeared. I don't know if it is because I ran out of their favorite sunflower seeds, or they have simply moved on. But I miss them.

I also tried my hand at doing a little close up of the jonquils that are surprisingly still blooming.


I've been doing a bit of painting as well, since I now have time...