you might wonder . . .

. . . how one goes from a 2,500+ square feet brick and mortar home, complete with eat-in kitchen, office, several bedrooms, and most importantly, a beautiful sewing/quilting room, to this comfy, cozy habitat with living space just under 450 square feet . . .

It's a realistic question, one I asked myself several times before just jumping in and doing it! Really I wasn't so worried about the cooking or resting or entertaining as much as I was moving from my pretty yellow sewing room . . .

With it's windows (one of which was big and open and gave me a happy view of the bird activity), and bright and cheery lighting, my pictures and books, the tools of my trade, lots and lots of storage space, and things that just made it ME . . .

to what is now the residence of my crafting . . . the back bunkroom.

Especially since the bunkroom was not just to be my sewing/quilting room (a hobby which, by the way, takes up a LOT of space), it was also to be Todd's office. Gulp!

The first thing Todd did was remove the storage unit that was in the center of the room. While on the one hand it did take away some shelving/closet space, on the other hand, it opened up precious, precious,
P-R-E-C-I-O-U-S floor space!

We pulled the mattresses (they were the cheap kind, anyway...no big loss) off the bunks, and replaced them with an assortment of plastic drawers for quilting/sewing supplies and office supplies . . .

My cutting table is a permanent fixture, but the ironing board is easy enough to fold and tuck away when I need more room to walk around in.

My stash is in the giant tub on the lower bunk; Eventually I'll put the kits I've collected (to work on in my retirement, when I can't afford to purchase them anymore) into the vacuum sealed bags, and I'll store those in our "basement". Yes, our RV does have a basement. And it's pretty decent sized! Anyway, clearing those out of my drawers will allow me to move things around so it's easier to get to. I was commenting to Todd last night, as I was working on getting the Rooster ready for quilting, that I missed having all my tools out and available so I could just put my hands on them. We've purchased the materials we need to hang peg board on the back of the bathroom door (seen behind the iron board, above), so I can hang all my rulers and squares and cutters, and get to them with ease.

Todd's "desk" is actually another table like my cutting table, only without the extended legs. It can be pushed back against the bunks on the other side of the room when he's not using it. Last night we were both working in there without any problem. I'll admit it though, I'm a room hog! My darling husband is very accommodating.

The bed in the master bedroom is a standard queen, and I've got a cardboard cutting surface I can lay out over it if I need the extra space to lay out fabric and pattern, or even baste a quilt to ready it for quilting. Where there's a will there's a way!

Lastly, I've been sewing at the kitchen table. I'm not sure whether I like it or not. It puts me sitting at an unusual height in relation to the machine. One that affords me a really good, close-up look at what I'm doing! I've also got a card table I can pull out if I feel the need to more space while I sew. But it would have to be set up in the middle of the kitchen floor. In the spring/summer/fall, I would consider sewing outside, but I'd prefer a screened room to sew in before moving the show to the great outdoors!

Anyway, taking our entire lives on the road, so to speak, has not hobbled my ability to produce. I've finished four quilting projects and started and finished three sewing projects since we made the move. I'm resourceful and we -- Todd & I -- are both determined to make this work!

Happy quilting to me!

:)

and the drumroll please . . .

It is (finally) FINISHED!!!!

I was starting to get a little anxious with myself; I'm such a procrastinator and I know it. But last night, before nine o'clock, I stitched my last stitch, took my final pictures, wrote a little note, and tucked it into the envelope! I will feel much better when I've gotten it to the post office and it's out of my hands . . .

I was more confident playing around with the stitches on my machine for the applique part this time. I love the effects that it adds to the leaves and the acorns! I still hand quilted, so I could leave the stitches bigger and loopier; I wanted the quilting to have a more whimsical look. Well, like leaves floating down off the trees to the ground. :)

I was pleased with my tag on the back, too. Mostly because the name of the topper was inspired by our homesite, A-Corn Hill. All this picture shows is the name, my initials and the year, but I also used the blank space above to sign it (with the same pens we used for Joc's signature quilt at the wedding) and to put the occasion (Fall-Inspired Mini Quilt Swap).

Wanna know where it's going??? To ..... nope. It's a SECRET! But I will say that it's heading WEST! :) I hope my swap pal likes it!

We were to post on the flicker group when we'd sent it off. I noted that I needed to have deadlines imposed by higher powers on all my quilting projects; I'd have fewer UFOs!

Happy day!

:)

a view down the aisle (grocery, that is) . . .

Is it just me, or does anyone else *really* enjoy shopping in grocery stores?

I'm not talking about shopping in Wal-Mart. While it does have a grocery *section*, it is not a *true* grocery store.

I mean like, well, Publix (my personal favorite) or Kroger, or even Star Mart. In Maryland it would have been Giant. A grocery, grocery store (because if I say it twice, you'll *have* to understand what I mean)!

I enjoy the act of grocery shopping. Of comparing prices (and not just face value prices, but per ounce/unit/whatev prices), and finding new products and checking ingredient labels and nutrition values.

I'm so weird!

And I like planning a meal off the top of my head once inside the doors. I don't usually shop this way. I'm very organized with a menu for the week and a grocery list with everything in order of the aisles. But every once in a while, I like to stop in and say, "What's gonna be for dinner tonight?!" and take it from there. Zipping back and forth between the aisles as inspiration bursts forth!

I like to visit the deli, bakery, seafood and meat counters. I chat with the folks behind the counters. The bakery folks are always busy, busy, busy. I like to tell them all how good it smells at that end of the store. I usually chat with the folks at the deli the longest, because I always have a big order for them, getting my sandwich meats and cheese. The folks at the meat counter are *so* helpful; they are always happy to take a big package of ground beef and make it smaller for me. And then the seafood folks . . . always a very lively bunch.

I like helping the shopper who absolutely cannot find the organic almond butter, by telling her that it’s not with the peanut butter, it’s with the condiments on aisle over, in the organic section. I just know. :)

I like traveling down the aisle that has all the gadgets and seeing if there’s anything new there or anything I might really need in order to effectively prepare any of my meals for the following week. (I never do, but I still like to make sure.)

I like wandering up and down each aisle, smiling sympathetically at moms with lots of kids in and around their carts, asking for all kinds of things in loud voices. (Yes. It makes me smile, even chuckle a little. Because I’ve been there, done that.)

I like looking at the bins that have the sale items and being pleasantly surprised when my favorite hot chocolate is buy one, get one FREE!

Sometimes I like to get a new item that I’ve never tried before just because it’s something I’ve never tried. It’s like having a mini-adventure!

I like unloading my cart onto the conveyor belt, making sure like items are grouped together for easier bagging and unloading. First, all freezer foods, then all fresh foods, then all cans, then all boxes, then all non-food items, then the bread, eggs, and any other delicate items, and finally, the little stuff that goes in your purse, like the gum and chocolate-covered raisins. I know the baggers see my organization skills and are impressed. They want me to teach classes for the rest of the shoppers.

I like looking at the magazine rack while I wait for it to be my turn. I’d never buy one of those gossip magazines, but reading the covers makes me laugh. Tom Cruise did WHAT????!

I like joking with the cashiers and the baggers, making small chit-chat. Or, if it’s one of my regulars, asking what they’ve been up to or how their families are. And, when I’m in Publix, I love that the bagger asks to take my groceries to the car, and helps me unload them and puts the cart up for me. I especially like this service if it’s RAINing outside!

And so now you know why I love going to the grocery store!

Happy shopping!

:)

some things I've thought about lately . . .

. . . why does it feel like the one day God specifically set aside for rest turns out to be the busiest day of the week?

. . . why am I awake at 4:30 am, but when my alarm goes off at 5:30 am, I turn it off and sleep until 6:30 am?

. . . why do we have to pay property taxes on items we paid sales taxes on when the original purchase was made, with money on which income taxes were paid before we ever saw it?

. . . why do cats always sit right in the middle of what you're working on?

. . . why don't they make sitcoms like The Partridge Family, The Brady Bunch, and The Cosby Show anymore?

. . . why do bankers who got bailed out with my tax dollars get a huge bonus, when I can't even get a cost-of-living raise?

. . . why do I bother thinking about this stuff??!!

:)

can't make me!

I am not going anywhere today.

Now hear me correctly . . . I didn't say I wasn't *doing* anything today; in fact, I've already been quite productive. I got up and made Todd's lunch, fixed (re-heated) breakfast--that yummy breakfast casserole I made on Saturday--and had coffee with him before he went out on shift. Then I had another cup of coffee and washed the dishes, folded towels, got more laundry started, made the bed, wiped down all the counter tops, and swept. Then I had another cup of coffee and washed my face, brushed my teeth, pulled my hair back, and got dressed.

Honestly, I've done a good day's work, and it's only nine in the morning. I'm feeling pretty good about myself! And having another cup of coffee.

But I'm still not getting in my vehicle and going ANYwhere today.

*This is the day that I pull out the sewing machine and finish the applique on my swap topper.

Yes, this is the one that *has* to be in Saturday's mail, on its way to its new owner!

*This is the day that I put old movies in the DVD player.

Hmmm . . . decisions, decisions . . . such tough decisions!

*This is the day I make a pot of tea in the beautiful glass teapot that all the kids got me for Mother's Day.

Pomegranate Pizzazz . . . very yummy!

*This is the day I sit and watch the wildlife flit in and out of my picture window's view.

Oh wait. I pretty much do that *every* day! Can you blame me?

As long as we're clear . . . I'm not leaving this place today. I love Mondays!

Salutations!

:)

this is for the birds . . .

Yesterday morning Todd and I sat at the picture window watching the birds eat breakfast. It was so much fun to watch the jays dive into the corn like kamikaze pilots. I'm not kidding. They fly head-first towards the ground at break-neck speeds, only to pull up and land on their feet at the very last second. And just as the jay gets comfortable in the corn, the red-headed woodpecker swoops down and displaces the jay. Not to eat corn, mind you, but simple to chase off the big ol' blue jay. Then the cardinal (Nick) comes in and flits from feeder to feeder, preening himself between dainty bites of black oil sunflowers seeds. He's such an aristocrat! Then there are the little birds; the sparrows, the wrens, the chickadees, the juncos, and the tufted titmouses (or would that be titmice?) who steadily consume their weight in feed. They make me laugh as they chatter and eat and chatter. And eat and eat and eat! Then two of them will fly swirlies together as if they're twitterpated in the dead of winter. But it's so pretty to watch! The nuthatches do their funny little hop-skip-jump upside down on the tree, and the downy woodpecker hangs close to, actually ON, the suet feeder.


Why didn't I share this all in yesterday's post? Because yesterday was a serious, introspective, Pulitzer prize winning post day. You can't write about birds and twittering and be a Pulitzer prize winner unless you're Robert Frost. Whom I'm definitely not. Hahahaha!


Anyway, we sat at the window and watched the birds and ate breakfast. You do remember me sharing that I was going to make my darling man a yummy breakfast of sausage apple pie, right? I'm sorry to report that it didn't happen. In my defense though, it's not for lack of trying. It's for lack of light apple pie filling. So instead, I opted to tweak a recipe I'd tried a couple of months ago at our mini-retreat. It's healthy, hot, and very tasty. It's whole wheat bread, turkey sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms, assorted herbs & spices, eggs, milk, and cheese. Layered and allowed to sit overnight, it took 30 minutes in a hot oven and it was ready to chow down! Which we did. :)


We were without water again yesterday; did I mention that? We actually lost it Friday afternoon, which, given the temperatures, is no big surprise. I feel so badly for my husband, because I can *see* how it eats at him until it's fixed. It makes me realize how incredibly blessed I am to have him as a husband; my provider and my protector. I need to be more purposeful in my recognition of him. I'm sometimes quick to challenge his way of doing things. An example would be with the heaters and the water sources. I was a little anxious about leaving them (the heaters) on overnight. But instead of saying something (or at least I don't think I did; I hope I didn't) I got to thinking about the fact that my husband wouldn't do anything to endanger me; he's a very smart and resourceful man. Not to mention the fact that he was schooled as an electrician and he's a FIRE FIGHTER! If he is comfortable with his plan, who the heck am I to challenge him? Good gracious; I need to read this paragraph frequently!


I did get my applique leaves on my swap project. I'm didn't want to get the sewing machine out until the water was on and the heaters were put up. The down side to our living arrangement is that there's only so many machines that can be plugged in and working at a time! No matter. Water was back by late afternoon and Monday is an off day. I'll get her done.


Friday is the third annual board meeting for Restoring the Church Ministries. Three years already!! What an incredible ride it's been so far. We've come a long way since our original vision. I mean, we're actually living in our fifth-wheel RV!!!!! I cannot wait to experience what God has for us this year!


Two weeks from yesterday we'll have another wedding in the family. It's with gratitude that I note I'm just a guest at this one! :) My nephew, Michael Jr. is getting married in HOTlanta! It will be so awesome to see my whole family again after only six months! Yippee!!!


Today is Sunday, so I'm off to ready myself for church! Pictures will have to wait until I can upload them on Tuesday. :(


Selah!


:)

reading, writing . . . and re-reading . . .

I really love to write. It's why I blog. Not so much of a journal or diary exercise (although it is that), but as an outlet to write. I've written stories since I was a young girl. I especially enjoyed writing reports on books I'd read. I made my way through my year at Ole Miss by writing papers . . . for others. For crying out loud, I was a journalism major! I also wrote lots of short stories in college. Not to be published or for notoriety, but for the sheer pleasure of expressing myself, my thoughts, and my very wild imagination with the written word.

The thing is, I am also an avid, nearly unquenchable reader. Which means I understand the importance of a well-written work. I know what I like to read, and I know how difficult it is to read a book, even a paragraph--I can forgive the occasional poorly structured sentence--that is not well-written. It hurts my head.

I started this blog on September 1, 2003. That means I'm in my seventh year with this same blog! It's come a long way, as has my diligence for writing in it. Over the course of seven years, I've only logged in 187 posts, so my faithfulness to the pen (or keyboard, as the case may be) is not to be commended! As I've commented recently, I can either be living life, or commenting on it. It's tough to do both. And besides, writing--the way I want to be read--is WORK! No really; it's w-o-r-k. Not that I don't enjoy the work; just acknowledging the plain fact that it is, indeed, work. I think I've made my point.

All of that being said, from time-to-time I enjoy going back and reading old blog posts. I did just that yesterday, as I realized I was closing in on Post 200. I started back at the first entry and skipped and hopped through the last seven years. The scope of what I wrote about varied. Sometimes I've blogged about my faith and my walk with Jesus; where I've struggled and where He's delivered me. Often I share tidbits from my day; from the spectacular to the mundane. For a (brief) period of time I logged my exercising and dieting. Ugh. (Now I have a *private* blog for that sort of thing.) For a while I blogged about cooking through the Mitford cookbook. It took me two recipes to realize that was a no-go. I've blogged about quilting, cooking, family, and reading; things I've enjoyed and, well, things I haven't enjoyed quite so much.

On my first day, I blogged about pear dumplings. It was the very first time I'd made them and in the course of making them, I found a cool gadget I'd gotten from my Grandpa Wadleigh's kitchen when he passed. Now, it's not likely that I'll forget the dumplings or playing with the pastry frame; but because I wrote about it while it was fresh on my mind, I was able to capture nuances about that day that I might not have been able to remember seven years later. How sweet it is to go back and read that entry and be transported to that day with all its wonderful tastes and smells and sensations. Lovely.

It was nearly a year later when I blogged again. Lemme 'splain. You see I journal, too. I like the physical action of writing, with a pen, on paper. I don't care for redundancy, so typing in the blog what I've already written, seems like a waste of time, effort and energy. Who cares where it's recorded, as long as it *has* been recorded. So when I wrote on paper, I was less likely to make a blog entry. Which I regret, now, but it's water under the bridge; milk that's been both spilled and cleaned up already, so there's no point in spending any more time on it. Except to say that I can't carry years and years worth of journals with me on the RV to read back though. (At least not if I'm going to keep my Tea Time magazines and all my quilting books. Priorities.)

As I was saying, the next time I blogged was July, 2004, where my thoughts mostly centered on Jocelyn. She worked that summer in Hague, Virginia, helping my sister who'd just had her fourth baby. We also purchased Jocelyn's first car, as Joc was getting ready to head to Blue Mountain, Mississippi, as a college freshman. I'm glad I chronicled some of my bittersweet thoughts of Jocelyn's transition from high-schooler to college student. She was my first bird to fly the coop! September and October had a few posts, mostly regarding my (ongoing) battle with weight. And then the blog fell silent again . . . (no mystery there, huh?) . . .

Until for some reason I picked it up again in May of 2005. I blogged off an on through the year until September, when I switched to Xanga. I fell to peer pressure; all the cool kids were doing it. In December I went back to good ol' blogger.com and meticulously cut and pasted all my Xanga entries to this blog. In my final entry of the year, December 30, I touched on my dilemma of blogging vs. journaling. How appropriate!

In 2006 I posted just as irregularly, but I had figured out how to post pictures to my entries. Pictures made a nice difference. They make a good break between paragraphs. And since a picture paints a thousand words, using pictures allows me to cut back on my typing time. Haha. I crack me up! Notice this entry has no pictures. Heh.

The year of our Lord, 2007, has the fewest posts scattered through it since I'd started this thing in '03. And most of those posts started with, "I need to blog more . . . " Oh well! I picked up the pace just a little in '08. Wait, no I really did not. I went from a skimpy nine entries in '07 to a whopping FOURTEEN entries in '08. Wow and blow me away. In 2008 I started sharing bits and pieces of my quilting. I like the ability to photograph my projects in their various stages and post them for posterity. It's especially nice when I'm working on a quilt that is a gift for another.

Last year I finally got a bit more in the blogging groove. I fancied up the page, brought in a pretty little template, and added gadgets to my blog. I played with color and layout. I started reading other blogs and posting links and sharing stuff, like my favorite websites. I'm not sure why, but I was a little more compelled to blog. Well, during the second half of the year, anyway. Errr, well, during three months of the year, I mean! I started off with a bang in August and trucked right along into September and October, but waned in November and December. I wonder why? It couldn't have been the fact that we moved . . . from our brick & mortar home to our fifth wheel. Or the holidays . . . and our last Thanksgiving in our Hunter Road home. Or Christmas and the whirlwind of activity--parties, shopping, church events, etc.--that it brings.

No, it couldn't possibly have been any of those things . . . :)

A new year, a new leaf, and new resolve to express myself more regularly and consistently. For no one's benefit than my own. So that in seven months or in another seven years, I can sit down and re-live the sweet moments of 2010. Sitting at the picture window watching the birds and animals, with my best friend & husband. Holding precious Sawyer Graham Panter for the first time. Watching my children and their spouses continue to grow in God's love and grace; and love each other. Seeing God's hand in the ministry as it grows and is used to His glory. Spending time with family and friends. Chronicling this amazing, God-given journey.

And expressing myself in my favorite manner (other than pantomime); in writing.

The end.

:)

post script: I'll post pictures again tomorrow. Sheesh!

. . . too cold to be witty!

Yesterday all of this cold weather finally paid off with a little snow event! Yay! There wasn't a lot, but enough to make everything pretty. And it was cold enough that it's stuck around and made driving messy. Here's a picture of the road coming up from the camp. Todd called me to assure me that it was okay to drive into work this morning. Drats! It was fine, but I sure didn't take it with my usual carefree abandon (or my usual speed)!

As I drove into the camp last night, I had to catch this pretty photo of our frozen, lower pond. On the news last night, they shared a story about a mule that had wandered out into the middle of a frozen pond and then got stuck out there. It finally started thrashing and kicked a hole in the ice and went into the freezing waters. Rescuers were able to get it out and it was recovering nicely when the story was reported. The same man who owned the mule also owned a bull (a baby one) which he'd named "Coach Saban". Evidently the owner was such a Crimson Tide fan that he named all of his livestock after the team. Interesting. Or amusing. Hmmmm.

I don't think I'll chance skating on the pond this weekend (especially not after the mule story), but I think I'd like to walk down for a closer inspection. Unfortunately we're to experience very bitter, cold temperatures (highs in the upper teens) for the next two or three days; I'm not sure I have enough under-gear to make such a trip!

We had our own splash of crimson as the snowflakes fell yesterday afternoon. I got one decent shot of this handsome cardinal. Maybe I should name him Nick. Heh. So far, he's the only male cardinal to venture into our feeding stations. We saw two female cardinals yesterday; our count is up to three! Out of the half a dozen photos I took of Nick, this was the only one that he was still enough in to not be a fuzzy blur. I did also take some video of him, though! He hopped around and hammed it up for the camera. A couple times he'd look directly at me and cock his head as if to say, "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeVille!"

I also took video of the seven deer (does and fawns) that made their way up to A-corn Hill late in the afternoon! Oh what fun! If I can figure out how to edit and upload the video, I post it. They are so comical to watch! Todd and I sat in the window for better than an hour, drinking our hot drinks and watching nature. I always feel so blessed -- and incredibly content -- watching from our window. It's a nice way to feel. :)

Finally, I've finished the top of the rooster wall hanging! I really like the look of the letters; I whip-stitched them. It gave them a real rustic, iron look, which is what I wanted! The chicken tracks are hard to see here, but if you look closely you can spot them! I am very pleased with the overall look. Can't wait to quilt it! One of the guys at the shop is going to build me a decorative rod & brackets, using the same finial I used as a template for the weather vane. I thought that would be a neat touch.

Maybe they're a little easier to see in this photo. It was while I was searching for a template for the chicken tracks that I came across the "Chickens in the Road" blog. Have you checked it out yet??? It's worth the read. After a bit more research, I learned that she's not just a blog writer, she's a book writer! She's written quite a number of the paperback romance novels. And from what I could tell, her readers are quite happy to give her good reviews, too! Her name is Suzanne McMinn.

I still need to get busy on my Fall Quilt Swap Project! It HAS to be in the mail by Monday the 18th . . . which is a holiday . . . so by Saturday the 16th!!! YIKES!!! I know what I'll be doing tomorrow!!! It shouldn't be too bad; the topper is pieced and the appliques are cut. I just need to attach them and quilt it. Deep breath. I can do it.

Last night I made beefy nachos for dinner, and then Todd & I sat in bed and watched the BCS game. What a nail biter! Since the game came on so late, we decided to watch it from bed. Our new mattress topper arrived yesterday, so we had an addition 4 inches of plushness to lay on! It fits our regular mattress perfectly. Anyway, we watched the game for better than three hours. Gosh, I could hardly stand it!! I'd get to feeling like I just couldn't watch anymore, and I'd flip over and read my book. But there's a mirror at the head of the bed, and I'd find myself taking surreptitious glances into it, watching the TV. Then I'd have to flip over and holler at the TV for a bit. It was a good game with a GREAT outcome. Congratulations to Coach Nick Saban and the team. They played hard and well. Roll Tide! :)

As an aside, we rarely ever watch TV in bed. Usually the only time that TV is on is when I'm getting ready for work in the morning. It helps me to stay informed about current local weather and traffic conditions and I'm able to know about what time it is just by where we are in the format. Last night was a special occasion. College football, national championship game. I mean, c'mon. And again I'll say, ROLL TIDE!!!

My sweet husband took off today, so I'm happy he will be there tonight with me. I'll make a special breakfast for him tomorrow. I saw a recipe in the Farmer's Journal for Sausage Apple Pie. At first I wrinkled my nose at it, but then I got to thinking about it and the more I thought, the yummier it sounded. I'll use turkey sausage, sugar-free apple pie filling, shredded cheddar cheese, and pie crust. I'll report. :) I'm glad I'm making it for him, and really glad he'll be there when I get home tonight. He's my happy. :)

Today's verse is, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3.

That describes how I feel perfectly. Praise be to God.

Amen!

:)

to every thing . . .

Yesterday, I wrote, "To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens."

It wasn't just a random thought (although it probably read that way).

And it's not an original thought, either. (I know, right? You're blown away!) It's straight from God's Word -- the third chapter of Ecclesiastes.

What an incredible passage of Scripture. God the Almighty has deemed a season and time to every purpose.

It begs the question, what is my God-deemed purpose in this time & season of my life?

My answers (the easiest ones) also come from God's Word . . .

in Ecclesiastes He tells me, Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

in Matthew He tells me, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

in Romans He tells me, "Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God."

in 1 Corinthians He tells me, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

and in James He tells me, "But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger" and "Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."

In 1 Thessalonians 5 there's a whole section of verses dedicated to a believer's conduct (and I've written about some of those verses previously):

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

And this is just a smattering -- a tiny sample -- of God's direction to us. To me.

Wow.

So if I'm hard-pressed to know what my purpose is, I don't have to go far to know what the end result should be. And I'll be honest, sometimes I do wonder what it is God wants from me. What should I be doing? How should I be serving Him? And lovingly and gently, He brings me back to the conclusion that His Word holds all the answers. I don't need to wander aimlessly in the desert, looking for a clue. If my day-to-day living is based on the principals of His Word, I'll be serving my God-given purpose. In the season and time God's given me.

He's so faithful!

:)

on frozen ponds . . .

It's a bit chilly here in the deep south. It was twelve degrees when I got in my car to go to work this morning. Not quite the temps Alabamians are used to! It's been several (five, to be exact) days since the temperatures ventured above freezing. I had to laugh when the weatherman reported this morning that we would be experiencing 'bitter cold' temperatures by the end of the week. Buddy, we're there!

Driving down from Acorn Hill over the last few days, we've noticed that slowly, but surely, the ponds are freezing over! It's been an interesting progression to watch. Neither of them are ready for ice skating, by any means, but another week of these temps and they most likely will be! Thinking of frozen ponds and ice skating brings with it a wave of childhood nostalgia. I have fond memories of trekking through Severndale (our community) to Oakhill Elementary School (up hill, both ways), to the pond behind the school. We'd skate and play for hours and hours. When there was snow on the ground we'd take our sleds and go down the hill from the road to the school. What fun! When the sun started to set we'd head for home, shivering and worn, but happy and rosey-cheeked, too. Hot chocolate was always ready for us, and the smells of a home-cooked meal promised our bellies would be warm and full in no time.

I remember one particular trip to the Oakhill pond (which was probably more like a big swamp) during Christmas vacation. I'd gotten a really cool pair of boots that were Eskimo-ish and fur lined. I believe that may have been one of my favorite gifts under the tree that year. Anyway, a group of us trekked up to the pond, me wearing my new boots. It was cold, and I think I remember there being snow on the ground, but evidently it hadn't been cold long enough; there were some thin spots on the ice, and it didn't take long for me to find one! The water wasn't deep, so it wasn't like I fell in and got sucked under the ice or anything dramatic; I merely stepped *through* the ice and down into about twelve inches of water and muck. Cold, cold, COLD! That was my first thought. Pull foot up! That was my second thought. Unfortunately, when I did, the boot stayed down below, caught in the muck. I was so heartbroken! I remember getting down on my knees and fishing around in that cold water until I found the boot and pulled it back through the hole I'd made. I remembering walking back home (maybe about a mile) with one boot off, totally dejected. But thinking back on it makes me smile. I cleaned the boot as best as I could, but it was never quite the same. It didn't stop me from wearing them, but they were certainly no longer my prize.

Isn't it funny how a simply thing like driving past a pond that's icing over can bring back such a vivid childhood memory? I haven't thought of that boot/ice incident in years and years. But it's a part of who I am.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heavens.

I'm looking forward to Saturday and the opportunity to 'test the ice' on frozen ponds . . .

:)

simplicity on earth . . .

There's so much I want to share and say; but in order to get it all down, I'd have to be sitting here 24/7 in order to catch it all! Of course, the conundrum of that is, if I were sitting at the computer 24/7, I wouldn't be living the life that I want to capture & share. Same ol', same ol'. :)

I was up early enough to catch this yesterday's sunrise. The sky was mottled with steel gray clouds, so the sun streaked through it in pinks and oranges. Quite beautiful. It struck within me this continued pressing for simpler life - simpler eating, simpler routine, simpler belongings . . .

Regardless of all our careful preparation and winterizing, the water connection from the source to the RV froze Saturday. Thankfully we'd filled the freshwater tank, and it's not been too big a deal. It has emphasized to me how much for granted I take my fresh water source! I was very conscious each time I turned on the tap for a drink, a wash, a rinse . . . even to flush! I think I'll get a couple gallon jugs of water and put them up, just to make coffee and oatmeal without worrying about having enough water for showers! :)

My friend, Sondra, and I headed to Franklin, Tennessee, over the weekend for a trip to Whole Foods Market. This may what prompted my 'back-to-basic' longings this morning! I really, REALLY want to go to a less-processed foods, more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, diet. No. Scratch diet; lifestyle! To that end, Todd & I purchased a small George Foreman grill and a two-person Crock-Pot. Tonight for dinner (which took 20 minutes, tops) we had lean pork chops which I rubbed with a homemade rub, on the grill -- they took less than 7 minutes to cook, and they were *wonderful*! Tonight I'll put the steel cut oats in the crock pot and we'll have yummy oatmeal ready to go in the morning! Yummy!

Todd finally figured out where the water line was frozen and got it thawed! YAY! I'm telling you, you don't realize how much water you use in day-to-day life until it's not readily available! Tonight as I ate dinner and thanked God for His provision with every bite, I was also thanking Him for each drink of water I took. :) He is good.

This morning neither Todd nor I wanted to get up; it was too cold!! When I finally stuck my foot out of the bed, I knew something was not quite right! All the heat vents were ice cold, so I took a peek at the thermostat . . . rut roh! It was at forty-five degrees! Luckily we had filled our backup tank last night, and Todd was able to hook it up and get the heat cranking within minutes. Life in the RV will *never* be boring! :)

I had planned to take down Christmas decorations and the tree today. Nope, didn't happen! By the time we got home this afternoon, and I was able to wash dishes and we had lunch, I just wasn't interested. Instead, I did the Turbo-Jam 20-minute workout and the P90 resistance training. Go me!!

Tonight I'll shower (really enjoying the hot *and* the water), and I will finish up the chicken feet on Julia's wall hanging. In searching online for the best template to use for them, I came across a new blog -- Chickens in the Road. It's wonderful! The author moved to a very rural and small town in West Virginia, and is living a simple life, sharing her experiences with all. It really struck a chord with me . . . perhaps because I have ties and roots in West Virginia, or perhaps because of my longings for living a simpler, more rustic life. Whatever the case, I really like her blog and website and encourage others to check it out!

This afternoon, over our coffee/hot chocolate, Todd and I sat at the big window, watching the birds flit in and about until the deer moved in. We are such a pair; sitting together at the table with all the lights off, pulling binoculars up to get a better look! I like our life.

Shower then quilt . . . life goes on . . . tomorrow it's back to the real world again! By God's good grace, I'm ready!

Ciao!

:)

three, two, one . . .

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

:)

I love sharing life with you . . .

Still . . . I love waking up beside you,
for whatever the coming day brings,
you'll be there to share my life with me--
both the big and the little things.

Still . . . I love spending evenings with you,
talking over the events of the day,
enjoying each other's company,
even if there's nothing to say . . .

Still . . . I love sharing my life with you--
there's so much to look forward to . . .
And I know in my heart,
for the rest of my days,
I'll be sharing my love, still, with you.

Merry Christmas,

Todd

(author unknown; from Hallmark Christmas card)

:)

closing in on the countdown . . .

Blogs, journals, diaries . . . whichever one uses to express oneself (and in my case it may be all three), the end of the year usually finds entries full of retrospective comments, resolutions for the new year, and blah blah blah.

This one will be no different!

On the quilting front, I've had a marginally successful year. I started _and_ finished six projects, and started an additional seven projects that need to be finished! Plus I did a bit of regular sewing, too (like aprons, stockings, curtains, etc.) I also entered my first guild challenge, my first ever judged quilt show, and entered into my first swap (which actually won't be swapped until next month/year). I became more active in my local guild, took a bus trip to the AQS show in Knoxville, and joined a stitcher's group. Wow! Some of the projects I need to commit to finishing are the swap, first and foremost, because that has to be in the mail by January 18th (eeks!), and then my sister's Rooster (which is close), and then Joc's wedding quilt. I'll work on that non-stop at the Quilter's Retreat I'm going to in February, which my Stitcher's group (a quilt retreat -- another first)! Then there are grandbaby quilts!

I've also got things mostly figured out for quilting in the RV; once the Christmas stuff is down and put away, I'll be able to finish that up and get comfy in the space. I'm looking forward to it, though, and I have to remember that there are places like Patches & Stitches that have BIG tables and are gracious to share their space if I need to lay out a quilt top or baste a quilt sandwich! We also carried over my quilt books this week. I feel better. :)

Life held some MAJOR changes in 2009! I can't believe how fast it all flew by! I guess the whirlwind of activity causes that to happen. It's incredibly rewarding, as my own nest has emptied, to see my children begin to feather their own. Instead of feeling like I'm empty, or lost without the children around, I feel incredibly blessed to still be a part of their lives, and to see them grow and mature and live out the lives God's given them. I'm proud of them -- in a humble and praising God for it way! :)

Todd expressed it best in the card he gave me for Christmas . . . I'll have to repost it in its entirety. I read it and teared up; and then I wanted him to read it as if from me! Whoever wrote the sentiment it contained didn't get paid enough! :) Sharing life . . . I love sharing life with my husband. Our quiet moments, our accomplishments, our fun times, our memories, our future plans; I like living life with Todd. Thank You, Lord, for such a wonderful, wonderful man!

With the coming of 2010, I've now lived in four homes/cities/zip codes in Alabama. I've learned not to say (or even think) this is IT! because it rarely is!

Already 2010 is filling up . . . Michael Jr's wedding in January in Atlanta (and with it, another mini-Fowler family reunion -- YAY!); the quilter's retreat in February; a grandbaby -- Sawyer Graham Panter -- in March (along with lots of birthdays and anniversaries); Beth Moore live at Woodstock -- a mother/daughter trip -- in April; June is our 14th anniversary and somewhere along the line both Todd & I celebrate 30 years out of high school; and my parents silver wedding anniversary in September. So many wonderful things to look forward to! It would be easy to waste the year looking ahead to the next 'event'; but I am resolving to take each day and celebrate God's goodness in it!

So many thoughts; our ministry, our lives together, our family, our friends . . . .

May 2010 be a year filled with growth and a deepening relationship with God and my cherished ones. And praise Him for His goodness and overwhelming blessing in 2009!

. . . .

Merry Christmas!

:)

snow daze (and some unfinished business) !

First, as promised earlier, here's a shot of the kids over Thanksgiving. The clothes coordination was TOTALLY unplanned, but quite delightful! In fact, Joc & Kim were so tickled that their guys were matchie-matchie, that they bought themselves the same shirt so they could all be a matching foursome! I love 'em! They are quite the dramatic group. Never a dull moment!
post script: I should point out that darling Sawyer Graham is figuring more and more prominently in pictures with Kim! It's all so exciting to this grandma-gonnabe!

Also as promised, here are full length shots of the Boy Scout Quilt! I'm so pleased with how the quilting turned out on this! I've trimmed the edges and have the binding mostly ready, so I hope to finish it up this week!



The back, being black flannel, really showcases the quilting beautifully!


I totally love the Boy Scout crest! It's awesome!

Saturday morning we woke up to a light blanket of snow. What made the scene all the more enchanting were the deer that came in! Todd and I were captivated by them all. We sat for over an hour just watching them eat and move through the camp. I was so excited by how well the pictures came out, considering I was taking them through the window of the RV! The snowy background really afforded us a clear picture of our usually camouflaged critters!

There was a group of about four does and four yearlings.

There were two sets of two bucks; they're supposed to be in rut, but I guess ours hadn't gotten the memo. The picture below is of the most handsome buck I've seen. He really was a majestic and regal looking creature! Stunning.

When the deer had finally moved on out of the camp, Todd & I collected our wits enough to make it outside! Here's a picture of Home, Sweet Home, in the snow!

Below is the view out of our picture window, left.

And this is out the same window, straight on.

Below is coming out of the camping area, looking at the pavilion. Isn't this a beautiful campground?

Here's a shot of the bridge between the two ponds, covered in snow! Isn't it pretty? It's like living in my own personal winter wonderland!

And here's the winding road leading to the 'outside world'!

I hope this early December snowfall is a portend of things to come . . . !

Adieu!

:)

It's here!!!!!!

Finally, the long-awaited BSQ has been quilted! This was my first experience sending a quilt "out" for quilting, but it was well worth it. My quilter was Becky McCarthy and she did a simply marvelous job! She designed the Boy Scout crest that she used; she said she had to do three separate templates -- the shield, the eagle, the outlining fleur-de-lisle -- and then put it together into one design. She used gold and olive green thread which really makes the quilting pop, especially on the back!


The back is a whole piece of black flannel. The quilting is really showcased on the back; I've got more pictures of the whole quilt; I had to wait until I'd trimmed all the excess off, and had a sweet, helpful person (i.e., my darling husband) to hold it for me while I took the photo! I'll post those later.

All that's left now is the binding! Hurrah!

Scout's Honor.

:)

Capturing fleeting moments . . .

My sweet daughter-in-law, Kim (on the right), and her friend, Kim!
They are both due within a month of the other.
Aren't they precious? Expectant mothers are darling!
Especially when they are carrying your grandson!!!! :)

Thanksgiving Table 2009!
The last one (more than likely) on Hunter Road!
We have had some awesome Thanksgiving dinners around this table,
but I truly believe this year's was the BEST!

Close-up of the center.
I had just been wondering what I was going to do
floral-wise in the center of the table, when who should show
up at work with flowers, but my darling husband.
Oh my, how blessed and doubly blessed I am.

Old Tom, stuffed, seasoned and ready for the oven!
(It was early, EARLY in the morning, hence the coffee cup!)

Yay! Tom's goose is cooked! LOL! :)
James took all the family photos with his camera,
so I don't have any of all of us! Pooh.

Pretty little Christmas tree in its new space!
I need to cover the milk crate. One day I'll quilt an appropriate cover!

There's my Russian nesting Santa scene!
There's Santa, a snow angel, another Santa,
a snowman and a Christmas tree!
I purchased this in a flea market in Moscow.

A closer-up of the tree!
It took us about 5 minutes to decorate it! :)
We had sugar-free egg nog and sugar-free cookies
to help put us in the mood, then we watched Rudolph!
It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas!

How appropriate . . . my nesting doll Nativity scene under The Last Supper.
And if the picture on the TV is throwing you for a loop,
let me explain by saying it's the Bumble, from Rudolph.
The red (which looks like a big, glowing, floating eye)
is really his tongue in his open mouth!

Last night it was so windy, we had to pull in the awning and the antenna! Hopefully it will die down and we'll be able to string up our lights! YAY! I can't wait to have pretty colored lights on our RV -- it will be lots of fun to come home to!

Todd is busy winterizing the RV and getting his space all worked out. Every time I come home it's a little closer! There are still things at Hunter Road that need to come over, but not pertinent stuff -- more like the optional stuff. I thought I'd found all my Christmas stuff over the Thanksgiving weekend, but I'm still missing a bunch. Who knows where it is! Time for another trip to the 'cinderblock' basement!

This is a busy week; getting things settled before the cold weather settles, moving stuff in and around, church, and then a ladies' cookie swap on Friday! I'm going to see if the girls want to join my in cookie baking on Saturday; then the bustle of the season starts in earnest! Parties, church events, meetings . . . wow! I did find out today that we're closing the 24th-25th and again on the 31st-1st! That means two, five-day weekends in a row!! Whoo whoo!

Let the reindeer games begin!

:)

Can you believe . . .

. . . that it's been two and a half weeks since I blogged last? :(

. . . that I haven't shared a single thing about our move since they physically moved the RV?

. . . that we've been living full-time in the RV for, well, two and a half weeks?

. . . that I am no longer a cat owner?

. . . that I see deer on a daily basis, from our picture window?

. . . that I have done no significant quilting in better than two weeks?

. . . that I do laundry in a single machine that is both a washer & dryer? (And it's pretty cool, too!)

. . . that Thanksgiving has come and gone?

. . . that I went out, for the first time EVER on Black Friday? (Even if it was just as a chauffeur.)

. . . that for (also) the first time ever, our tree is artificial?

. . . that I'm excited I have an artificial tree??!

. . . that it's DECEMBER?? Where did 2009 go?!?

. . . that Christmas is in 23 days?!?!?!

. . . that there are recipes for sugar-free, low-fat eggnog?

Me either. But it's all true!

:)