Sabbath Keeping

"Blessed are all thy saints, O God and King, who have traveled over the tempestuous sea of this mortal life, and have made the harbor of peace and felicity. Watch over us who are still in our dangerous voyage, and remember such as lie exposed to the rough storms of trouble, and temptation. Frail is our vessel, and the ocean is wide, but as in thy mercy thou hast set our course, so steer the vessel of our life toward the everlasting shore of peace, and bring us at length to the quiet haven of our heart's desire, where thou, O our God, are blessed, and livest and reignest for ever and ever."

St. Augustine

"Because perseverance is so difficult, even when supported by the grace of God, thence is the value of new beginnings. For new beginnings are the life of perseverance."

E. B. Pusey

Blessings ~ quiet Sundays to refresh, renew, relax ~ great men and women of the early church ~ our Lord our God ~

Happy July 4th!

Jacquie Lawson has the Most Fabulous e-cards on the i-net! I am hopeful you'll be able to see this particular card, chosen for July 4th. My apologies if you're unable to view the card but my heart's desire is you'll have a wonderful July 4th and remember the enormous cost freedom exacts on society. To our patriot forefather's and mother's, Thank You and thank you as well to our service men and women and their families.



The patriot's blood is the seed of Freedom's tree. ~Thomas Campbell

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Dick Cheney

You have freedom when you're easy in your harness. ~Robert Frost

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

There are two freedoms - the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought. ~Charles Kingsley

Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ~Abraham Lincoln

Freedom means choosing your burden. ~Hephzibah Menuhin

Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

Men fight for freedom, then they begin to accumulate laws to take it away from themselves. ~Author Unknown

Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance. ~Woodrow Wilson

We have enjoyed so much freedom for so long that we are perhaps in danger of forgetting how much blood it cost to establish the Bill of Rights. ~Felix Frankfurter

I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. ~James Madison, speech, Virginia Convention, 1788

We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. ~Edward R. Murrow

Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort which it brings. ~Walter Lippmann, A Preface to Morals, 1929

The contest for ages has been to rescue liberty from the grasp of executive power. ~Daniel Webster

Most people want security in this world, not liberty. ~H.L. Mencken, Minority Report, 1956

Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves. ~D.H. Lawrence, Classical American Literature, 1922

The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. ~Louis D. Brandeis

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion. ~Edmund Burke

Liberty doesn't work as well in practice as it does in speeches. ~Will Rogers

When the People contend for their liberty, they seldom get anything for their Victory but new Masters. ~George Savile

Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. ~Thomas Macaulay

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims: Liberty and Equality," 1905

A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century. ~Baron de Montesquieu

Obtained from the Quote Garden.

Blessings ~ liberty ~ United States of America ~ the men and women in uniform who have given their lives to grant freedom to the world ~ Thank You for Serving ~

Fiber Arts Friday Carnival

This photo of a covered wagon that's falling to pieces in a pasture near Thistle Cove Farm. It's a shame, really, because I would have LOVED to save that old wagon!


I'm a bit surprised myself that I remember to post a Fiber Arts Friday Carnival entry. Around here, we go like our feet have wings and it's easy to forget to eat much less remember to post on a specific day. I'm thinking I do so poorly at remembering Fiber Arts Friday Carnival, I should bow out and post as I remember...then, I'd probably remember every week! That's how my brain chooses to work -smile-.

Are you familiar with KC Willis? She's the art wrangler over at Lipstick Ranch and have you ever heard such a great name!?! A few weeks ago I purchased her DVD and am grateful to KC for making it available for purchase. I live in the rural hinterlands and the excellent professional quality of her teaching is only available via her DVD.

KC, you're a wonder!

She's making available studio retreats at her place in Colorado...be still my pounding heart!...I SO WANT TO GO!!! and the small sized classes ensure personal attention where your inner creative "cowgirl" is unleashed and you don't even have to climb into the saddle!

So, you don't want to be a cowgirl or you're not artistically inclined? How about this...KC makes art that celebrates w-o-m-e-n. Not just women but women who built this great USA of ours, women who got their hands dirty, who carried a rifle in their hands, who hunted supper, who planted gardens. Those strong, sturdy pioneer types whose blood runs in my veins and whom I look up to and remember with great fondness. Women who avoided housework by going outside...HEY! that's MY kinda woman! I've long said, "hire someone to do housework so I can go to the barn and muck stables!"

In speaking about her art, KC said, "One of my favorites is an image of a pioneer mom, just a Western-settler, sod-buster type. The mom reflects, "They look to be the men to be heros, but we were the women who raised the boys who became those men."

Were truer words ever spoken!? I like the fact KC celebrates real women and not those painfully bone thin women fostered upon us by Madison Fifth Avenue in their advertising campaigns. Real Women who would NOT allow their neighbors to go hungry, women who know what a pot of soup means to a hurting body or a fresh baked pie means to a hurting soul. Women, like the Velveteen Rabbit, who are R-E-A-L.

The work of our hands has long been under-appreciated or, at least, that's my opinion. Women's work is fleeting...a nourishing meal, a warm quilt, a kiss on a skinned knee but all those things that add up to a life well lived. Generally, our work is not that of constructing buildings that last a hundred years or more or of laying down train track. Yet, it's exactly the work we do at home that allows the world to carry on without falling to pieces. The work that Real Women do daily without much of a pat on the back or a nod of the head except and until a woman like KC comes along and says, "let's make art at Lipstick Ranch!"

KC talks about how she was raised watching Hoss and Little Joe; I well relate to that. I was raised watching them and others. In Sunday School a few years back we were talking about heros and someone said, "Isn't is too bad children don't have heros anymore?"

I looked at the woman and said, "Don't you have heros?"

She looked startled and said, "Why no. I'm a little old for heros." "

So," I told her, "that's why children don't have heros. The adults don't have them so the children can't follow."

She looked puzzled. "Do you have heros?"

"Why, yes I DO! My heros are Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Billy and Ruth Graham and my Mother and Daddy."

By now the puzzlement was written all over several faces and some looked a bit uneasy at my, perhaps, lack of sophistication. But, you know what? It's I who feel sorry for them! To be so concerned...afraid???...of what someone else thinks of you. To be hero-less because someone might look at them the way they looked at me?

NO, thank you sir! Thoreau said, "men lead lives of quiet desperation" and I find that to be true. Sadly true. So, if you can't make it to Lipstick Ranch, check into the DVD and if you can't get the DVD, make your own heart...errr...ART -smile-.

It's never too late to become the friend you've always wanted.

Blessings ~ KC ~ DVD's ~ Lipstick Ranch...'cause I just LOVE the name! ~ heros ~ heART ~

Here's Looking At You!

Miss Emma is thriving on her kitten replacement milk formula and puts on a gram or ounce daily. She's a playful little thing and manages to hold her own with the dogs although I don't let them play unsupervised. Even little Sam Spade is too strong for Miss Emma in her weakened state. She's been de-wormed twice and that's helped; she'll be given her first shots next week and that will help as well. I'm wondering just how young she was when I found her sitting in the middle of the road, waiting to die. If she was five weeks old, that wouldn't surprise me! Two barn kittens have begun coming to the house and they all play with great abandon; it does my heart good to sit on the back porch and watch their antics.

Dave and I took the dogs for a walk in the upper pasture. It was great fun to watch Sadie and Sam Spade as we opened the gate and walked through. They stopped, looked around as though to say, "You mean there's MORE!? All this is ours TOO!?" We'd just finished haying and the round bales were waiting to be moved; horses and sheep aren't allowed back on the field until the hay is moved so it was all ours for the walk. No need to worry about sheep or horses running us down because they thought we had treats in our pockets. We also wanted to count the bales so we could keep a record of how much hay that pasture produced this year and cutting.

We took photos of each other and it was like herding cats to get all three dogs to stay still long enough to take the shot. They kept looking at me, saying, "You know, it's MUCH cooler in the shade of the hay bale!" Yeah, yeah. Be quiet, sit down and say, "Dog Biscuit!"
I love this photo of Abbie; it looks like she's laughing and having the time of her life and that's why I had to include another photo of me...it's the only way to get laughing Abbie in this post.

This photo of Dave is a keeper even though Abbie isn't in the frame. As usual, Abbie is doing Abbie things and can't be bothered to hang with us. She must always be running thither and hither, checking out the sights and smells instead of being with the rest of the family. Hmmm, I think there's a lesson for Christians here, ya think? -smile-
Sadie Hawkins and Sam Spade living a wonderful life. It's a sad commentary on the rest of the world that we can't all get along as well.
We've been blessed with a few days of sunshine and everyone is working mightily to gather their hay. First the hay is cut then, the next day, kicked - meaning turned over so the bottom is now on top and will dry - and the third day it's tethered and baled. Our first cutting is always put up in round bales while the second and, sometimes, third cutting is put into square bales. Square bales are actually rectangular and weigh anywhere from forty-five to seventy-five pounds.

Here, the round baler has just dumped a round bale weighing approximately 1,000 pounds. I'm not sure how many round bales this neighbor will get, but he has several hundred head of black Angus cattle he raises for market, and needs all the hay he can raise.

This pasture is below our house and the little white speck in the distance is a school house turned into a house for tenant farmers. We own a bit fewer than thirty acres and people are always assuming all the thousands and thousands of land they see surrounding our home is our land. Not hardly. It's beginning to be a bit more than I can handle to keep up with thirty acres and if not for hiring help for the hard jobs, I'd be in way over my head.

Each square bale must be handled four times - the first time is when it's picked up from the field and loaded on the wagon to take to the barn. Then it must be off loaded from the wagon into the hay loft where it's stored to cure until cold weather. I feed square bales in the worst of winter due to the greater nutritional value as it's almost pure alfalfa. The first round bale cutting is alfalfa mixed with hay. The final time I handle the square bale is when I load it into the Ranger and take it to the animals who are, usually, tremendously happy to see me coming with the square hay. They know the difference between round and square hay and know the square hay is much, much better eating than the round hay. If you don't believe me, just be here when they see me coming but stand out of the way or you'll be knocked over!

One final photo of the dogs, resting in the shade of the round bale, my walking stick propped beside them. Anyone who says animals aren't smart either has never had any animals or they keep them chained to a dog house somewhere in the back yard. Animals are plenty smart and, just like people, some are smarter than others. But, not just like people, animals give and give and give, their hearts giving love even to the most undeserving. Hmmm...another sermon coming on, ya think? -smile-


Blessings ~ dry hay and plenty of it! ~ animals to teach us lessons we need to learn, sometimes more than several dozen times! ~ beautiful days ~

Awards!

When I sent you all a hasty note last night stating you'd received this award...I totally forgot the post wasn't going to be on-line until today. My apologies for making you hurry up and wait; it was totally unintentional but then, you always knew I was a low-tech geek! -smile-


You remember in 1985 when Sally Field won the Academy Award for Places in the Heart? A lot of people think she said, "You like me, you really like me!" But she didn't. What she did say was, "I haven't had an orthodox career, and I've wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it, and I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!" She won in 1980 for Norma Rae, thus her reference to "the first time...".

So, to have someone give me an award, makes me feel honored in ways I can't even describe. To have someone say, "gosh, I enjoy your blog" makes me feel like I've been given a precious gift. A gift of time, a gift of words and I greatly appreciate the honor. And, if I feel this way and am, really, no one very special, there are others who, might, feel the very same way. The first award I was given, I passed it on to everyone and that was okay but...ummm...not really quite right. What's right is to pass it on to folks who make me feel like I've been given the gift of their time when I visit their blog. Like I've had a chat with someone special, with someone who is interesting and, yes, even exciting in their own way.

Don't you just love day lilies? They are So Cheerful!A few days ago, Cyndi at By The Light of the Moon, gave me the gift of One Lovely Blog Award but I have neglected putting it on my blog because...I just don't know how to get the button on my blog! sigh. Once again, being a low tech geek has stopped me cold. So, if you want to see what it looks like...look here and you'll see it's nice, very nice and I'm grateful. The deal is to pass it along to fifteen other blogs, in the hopes folks will visit all around and find someone else they enjoy reading and sharing a few moments of time. That's a good thing except I find so many of us are "like-minded" women bloggers and some are already spoken for -smile-.

The view from my hammock ~ If you find your name on this list and you don't accept awards, please, at least accept my apology. It's not my intent to attempt to give you something against your will; it's my aging eyes didn't pick up your "no award button" on your site -smile-.

Leslie ~ Greenberry House ~ fiber artist and rabbit rancher
Leslie ~ In The Shadow of Juniper Hill ~ interesting CA homesteader into just about everything
Pam ~ Pam Warden Art ~ fabulous artist and woman of deep faith who lives her faith
Carol ~ The Writer's Porch ~ wonderful wordsmith with a garden to die for and the kitchen table ain't so bad either
KC ~ Lipstick Ranch - ya just gotta LOVE that name! but I'm giving you the blog address
Kathy ~ Spot on Cedar Pond ~ fiber artist and I always, but always, look for her posts
Ann ~ A Holy Experience ~ although she doesn't have awards on her blog, her blog has enriched my spiritual life and I am truly grateful
Lisa ~ Laughing Orca Ranch ~ not sure she accepts awards but I always enjoy seeing what she's up to and how she's recovering from her horse related injury, lovely photos
Jeanne ~ My New Traveling Shoes - interesting woman struggling with health problems with big faith
Heather ~ A Jeweled Elegance ~ so fresh, crisp and entertaining and that's just the blog, her jewelry is incredible
Sunbeam's Mother ~ A Joyful Chaos - started reading because of the great title, keep reading because she's interesting, comforting and fun
Toni ~ Raising Eden ~ keeps up with the shenanigans inside the Beltway and she's a great knitter. It's because of Raising Eden I know how I'm being done in by "our" government
Penny ~ The Black Sheep Cottage ~ soothing blog although she has huge health problems right now...still an enjoyable visit
Jamie ~ ART-E-OLOGISTS ~ who has poison ivy...on her FACE! OUCH! you get the sympathy vote, Miss J! -smile- feel better SOON
Firelight~ The Keeping Room ~ visually stimulating yet soothing blog, great visit
Jules ~ MoonCat Farm ~ have you ever seen such a great logo... no, you have not and I love the wallpaper
Deanna ~ Home Haven Ministry ~ a gracious visit

There! In no particular order...a great group of bloggers, all women as it happens with something worth saying and saying it well. Some have staggeringly beautiful photos to toss some envy into the mix -smile- and all worth visiting when you've an opportunity.

Cyndi, thank you SO much for this award and for allowing me to pay it forward; it's been great fun.

Blessings ~ every single blog on my Cozy Reads sidebar as all have something worthwhile to say and, generally, beautiful photos to support the words ~ awards ~ and tomorrow, more to come ~

Fixer-Upper

Remember the water damage from our heating pipes freezing, bursting, thawing back in January? We're finally getting around to fixing that part of the house...HURRAH! It's been a huge job, taking weeks and weeks as it has to be repaired as people have time. I choose a wall color called "Amber" and love how it warms up the room as the sun moves across the sky. Every single wall in this house has, at the bare minimum, one opening and some have two or even three openings. Every wall has either a window or door and some walls have a fireplace and a door...or even two doors! The windows are 9 feet tall by 3 feet wide and the rooms are 10 feet tall. The floors are pine, sometimes heart pine and are all beautiful.





The dogs and I get up early, not as early as the dogs would like but I feel 6:00 a.m. is plenty early enough, especially as I'm not getting to bed until late...or what poses as late for me. Not enough sleep at any rate and I feel always drained, always tired, exhausted even, and during the worst of times, stumbling around on my feet. Dogs don't care though so I try and catch up as I can.

Last night I made a pallet on the sun room floor where I attempted to sleep but, at 2:00 a.m. I gave up and moved to a bedroom. The floors had their second coat of poly yesterday and the stench was amazing! It closed up our throats and choked us so Dave, the dogs and I all tried to sleep in the sunroom as it's the room fartherest away from the parlor. Even so, the smell was truly amazing. We had windows and doors open and around 2:00 the smell had either dissapated enough for me to stand going to the bedroom next door to the parlor or my hips just couldn't take any more of the hard floor.










This is the hall, loaded with stuff that's been moved around and around and around...in preparation for the fix-up. I've given a lot of things away and have yet more to unload on someone. One man's trash is another man's treasure, eh?





Sadie Hawkins loves me

Sadie wanted to be close this morning as we watched the kittens play. I had dropped onto the small flower bed timbers and was sitting there, fair stunned from lack of sleep and energetic play. Sadie just said, "it's okay Mom, I've got your back." -smile- She's a good-un and I'm enjoying watching her grow up.

This little kitten came up from the barn; she's one of the kittens I bathed when they were drowned in our neighbor's truck. She's doing fine and seems to enjoy visiting, especially now that Miss Emma is here. This little girl has yet to be named; any ideas?









Sam Spade and Sadie Hawkins

Sam is the terror of Sadie's life! He absolutely delights in pouncing on her, growling like a little lion and making her life miserable. And Sadie? She adores it! Thus far the only blood drawn has been mine so all's well.





Sam Spade and Miss Emma


Sam Spade adores making everyone toe the line. He pounces on Miss Emma like she's a big girl and here, Miss Emma is boxing Sam's nose for his trouble.







Marti, a friend from Richmond, gave me her Great Grandmother's Singer treadle sewing machine. It's long been my desire to make a quilt on this machine but it needed some fixing. Mr. H. is my Go-To sewing machine repair man and as he put it, "I can fix anything."
He can too. It's not bragging when it's true.
He fixed this machine for me and it works like a charm and will go into the parlor when the time is right. The Singer is dated 1887 and Mr. H. said the cabinet is the best he's ever seen. It needs a little TLC but nothing that can't be put right.

There's a quiche ready to come out of the oven; lunch is overdue. I've been cleaning all morning and needed a break so took some time for the computer. I want to get to the YMCA for a swim and workout today as well as work in the studio. There's always something to do and I'm never bored but figured out, early days, the work will always be there so it's best to just find a stopping place and then...stop. Stop to eat or rest or drink some water; stop to play with a kitten or love on Miss Kitty. Stop to cuddle with a puppy or give Abbie or Gracie some loving. Stop to share a glass of wine with Dave. Stop is one of my favorite four letter words!Blessings ~ sewing machine repair man ~ sewing machine ~ beautiful new to me room ~ lunch shared with friends and family ~ digital cameras ~

Sabbath Keeping

Happy Sabbath to one and all.

I haven't a clue how to add a video...please, someone, feel free to teach me -smile-...but, in the meantime, visit Spot on Cedar Pond to hear Selah sing their version of "All Our Tears Will Be Washed Away" from their Bless the Broken Road album. I've long said I wanted "It Is Well With My Soul" sung at my memorial service...to be held in the distant, very distant -smile-, future and now I want this song sung as well.

This haunting song, writtern by Julie Miller, is a memorial to Mark Heard. The words are below but do yourself a favor...visit Spot and listen to Selah. Your soul will be glad you did.

When I go don't cry for me
In my fathers arms I'll be
The wounds this world left on my soul
Will all be healed and I'll be whole
Sun and moon will be replaced
With the light of Jesus' face
And I will not be ashamed
For my savior knows my name
It don't matter where you bury me
I'll be home and I'll be free
All my tears be washed away
Gold and silver blind the eye
Temporary riches lie
Come and eat from heaven's store
Come and drink and thirst no more
So weep not for me my friend
When my time below does end
For my life belongs to Him
Who will raise the dead again
It don't matter where you bury me
I'll be home and I'll be free
It don't matter where I lay
All my tears be washed away

Blessings ~ the Word ~ the Promise ~ the Life Everlasting ~ Come, join me, please ~