Favorite Scripture

FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD...PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU...PLANS TO GIVE YOU A HOPE AND A FUTURE.
JEREMIAH 29:11 (NIV)

Friday, December 28, 2012

QUILTING SECRETS BLOG HOP



QUILTING SECRETS

OOOH...I'M EXCITED!
I DISCOVERED A NEW BLOG HOPE THAT BEGINS ON MONDAY.
Here's what Christine at Quilt Monster In My Closet
has to tell us ( I copied and pasted Christine's post but you'll want to check her blog out for yourself.  She makes beautiful quilts). I'm definitely going to Hop to these 7 blogs each day.
I happen to know 3 out of the 7 and they are SUPERB Quilters.  I just know their hints will be worth our time.  So grab a cuppa Monday morning and let's learn some Quilting tips.

CHRISTINE SAYS:


Just a Reminder about an upcoming Hop... If you're new to quilting or just want to know how someone gets something done... you might want to hop around this blog hop... Quilting Secrets are being shared...

We Have 7 Stops in 7 Days....  Hope you can make it by and learn a thing or two.... 

mrs pickles garden


She's got lots of fun giveaway's scheduled too!  

Christine @ Quilt Monter in my Closet December 31st ->>Me Me ME :)
Sue @ Quilt Times  January 5th
GO HERE, GRAB THE BLOG HOP BUTTON, COPY/PASTE ON YOUR BLOG, AND VOILA, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME PRIZES FOR PROMOTING THE BLOG HOP ON YOUR BLOG!!   EASY PEASY!!!
BLESSINGS

Sunday, December 23, 2012

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALABAMA

 MERRY CHRISTMAS 
TO ONE AND ALL


 The world is changing and after this past week with the tragedy in Connecticut where 20 little children were massacred along with 7 adults, we know more than ever, evil is a part of the world we live in.  Let's take a moment to hug one another, be kind, and cherish our families like never before.  
I worship a risen Savior who came to this world as a tiny infant, born of the Virgin Mary in the most lowly of circumstances, lived a perfect sinless life on earth, was crucified, at age 33, died on an Old Rugged Cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and arose on the third day as had been foretold.  I believe He did all this to pay the price for my sin because I could never DO ANYTHING to make myself "good enough" to stand before a Holy God.  The shedding of blood had to be part of the plan.

God had to make a plan so that His creation could have eternal life with Him.  The plan was Jesus.  I can't explain why it had to be that way, but I do believe that when I repented of my sins in Nov. 1998, asked God to forgive me and take over my life as ruler and King, I was *SAVED*.  Saved from eternal separation from my Savior, I now KNOW without a shadow of doubt that Upon my death or the Second Coming, I will be in the presence of God.  

Christmas is The Greatest Story Ever Told and to me personally, the Christ Child came because;
God so loved the world that he gave His only son that we should not perish but have everlasting life...John 3:16
 
The Real Reason For The Season
JESUS

 Nothing tells the Christmas story quite like a Children's play complete with little girls and slightly askew angel halos made from wire coat hangers, Shepherds in  men's bathrobes, the Three Kings in Burger King Crowns, a feed trough from a local farmer's barn serving as the manger, the newest baby in the congregation sharing the honor of depicting this year's Christ Child (watching the nervous mother on the front row poised to *catch* her baby just in case  someone should toss the young child in a nervous attempt to break a fall!!),  or the aluminum foil wrapped Star atop the manger scene...the humbleness of it all is what makes Christmas come alive for me.


  I hope you have a child to watch in a Christmas program somewhere and if not, go to one anyway.  You will smile and even laugh but you will leave feeling a little less cynical and a whole lot more hopeful.
THEN...
I found 2 images when looking for manger scenes.
This vintage MANGER SCENE
and THEN...
This CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY BARN

A town in Massachusetts made all manger scenes be renamed, "Holiday Barns"

Dear God, 
Forgive us for they Know Not what they do!


 Christmas Eve at Great Grandmother's Home
 

 Merry Christmas
Blessings












Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Books For Women


If you like to read, check out the book reviews over at SEW WE QUILT for a new book review each day through-out December.  I don't know about you, but I get stuck reading one genre of books and find it difficult to "read outside MY box"  Do you do that? 

 You'll find some different book suggestions that may peak your interest and broaden your horizons.  PLUS, if you leave a comment, you are entered into the prize pool. ( I want that iron!!!)
I've found 2-3 books to put on my TO READ LIST for 2013.  I like to read before I go to bed, waiting in doctor's offices, babysitting one of the grandpeeps during nap time, Sunday afternoons, on my front porch swing, while camping, or while #1 Husband fishes...I prop myself up in the back of the boat and READ!!!

So go check it out...Oh and become a follower for even more chances to win cool stuff.  This is my FAVORITE quilting site and resource for all things quilting.  Madame Samm, the creator/vision master of SEW WE QUILT has her thumb on the pulse of the quilting world.  If you want to be "in the know" about all things quilting/sewing make this one of the first blogs you read on a regular basis.  It is the first blog I read every day...Honest!!  I participate in the Blog Hops and have met some of the most creative and REALLY NICE people on this blog.  I just know you will find it worthy of your blog reading time.

Now Go...Right Now....Don't Forget...Become a Follower!

Blessings



Sunday, December 16, 2012

SANDY HOOK PRAYER CHAIN

aaaaaaab

I don't know about you, but my heart is hurting and my mind can not fathom the depth of evil that visited Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on Friday morning.  I couldn't make myself go to my Sunday School Christmas Party Friday night due to a deep sadness and depression that came over me as I listened to the breaking news. Each new revelation made the horror more tragic and all I could envision was the little bodies of those precious 20 children lying on the cold hard schoolroom floor ....can you picture the Horror those first responders must have seen as they came upon the grizzly scene?

Today in church, we observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims as numerous prayers were lifted up  to petition our loving Heavenly Father to wrap his everlasting arms around the families of all the victims, the teachers, the town, the first responders, medical examiner's team, etc... 
 The silence was deafening....
Each of us imagined ourselves in the shoes of those grieving parents, spouses and family members.  Without Faith, how does a person get through something like this.  Many have asked the question, "Where was God?"  "How could He allow such a heinous crime to happen on such innocent victims?"  I am here to tell you.........................................................................................
God is BIG enough for our questions.  GOD was right there in Sandy Hook even as the shooter rampaged through the building.  The Bible tells us that bad things happen to good people.  For ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.
But I have to be honest.... in my sadness and anger I asked the BIG question, 
 Where were you God?  
God know me and He knows I ask the BIG questions but I also KNOW HE is in charge even when I can't understand.  When I can't always understand the WHY?  I can always TRUST God's Heart.  He loves Me, He loves You, and He loves every one of those 20 children and 6/7 adults.  Without a shadow of doubt, Heaven gained 20 precious little Angels on Friday morning   and Hopefully each one of those 6/7 adults had a personal faith in Jesus Christ to where they joined those children as they entered into Eternity.

Thank You my dear quilting/blogging friends for indulging me today.
I simply had to Journal my thoughts on this Tragic event before I could move on to any topic other than Sandy Hook. It has weighed so heavily on my mind and heart.  I know for certain, I hugged my 5 grandchildren extra hard over the week-end...each one so precious to me...more precious than gold! 

(just a random group I found on-line but I loved their quilts)
I have seen several blogs in which collecting quilts was mentioned as a way to show our support to the people of Sandy Hook.  I don't know which group I may join up with but if any of you know of a group that you like who are making quilts/blankets/pillows to send to Sandy Hook, please let me know.  
I read that Project Linus sent over 700 quilts and another group, Project Binky, sent between 200-300.  I don't want to overload the town with quilts they don't need so I suggested to one blogger that pillowcases might be nice to make and send in January.  If you have any thoughts or input, please, let's talk!!


IN MEMORY 

Charlotte Bacon (2/22/06), 6 years old
Daniel Barden (9/25/05), 7 years old

Rachel Davino (7/17/83), Staff member, 29 years old

Olivia Engel (7/18/06), 6 years old

Josephine Gay (12/11/05), 7 years old

Ana M. Marquez-Greene (4/4/06), 6 years old

Dylan Hockley (3/8/06), 6 years old

Dawn Hochsprung (6/28/65), Principal, 47 years old

Madeleine F. Hsu (7/10/06), 6 years old

Catherine V. Hubbard (6/8/06), 6 years old

Chase Kowalski (10/31/05), 7 years old

Nancy Lanza, 52 years old (mother of shooter)

Jesse Lewis (6/30/06), 6 years old
James Mattioli (03/22/06), 6 years old

Grace McDonnell (11/4/05), 7 years old

Anne Marie Murphy (7/25/60), Staff member, 52 years old

Emilie Parker (05/12/06), 6 years old

Jack Pinto (05/05/06), 6 years old

Noah Pozner (11/20/06), 6 years old

Caroline Previdi (9/07/06), 6 years old

Jessica Rekos (5/10/06), 6 years old

Avielle Richman (11/17/06) 6 years old

Lauren Rousseau (June 1982), Staff member, 30 years old

Mary Sherlach (2/11/56), Staff member, 56 years old

Victoria Soto (11/04/85), Staff member, 27 years old

Benjamin Wheeler (09/12/06), 6 years old

Allison N. Wyatt (07/03/06), 6 years old 

Friday, December 14, 2012

BUSY WEEK

BUSY WEEK
SEWING, SICK GRANDPEEPS, DATE NIGHT,
 CHRISTMAS PARTY
I chuckled when I saw this cartoon 
especially after having had the Grandpeeps around the house more than usual this past week and anticipating a BIG Grandpeep Sleep-over this Saturday night.

My Sewing Cave looks like Santa's elves have had a party and forgot to tell me!  Lots of fun gifts being made...fabric tissue covers, pillow cases for the grandpeeps, chair pillows for my daughters, prayer quilt for a niece with cancer, aprons for granddaughter and 1 grandson who loves to bake, mugg ruggs for friends, tablerunner for my kitchen table, coffee mug wraps, etc...
Sewing is definitely my therapy which saves tremendously on therapy bills!

Below are SAMPLES of Fabric Tissue Holders I found on Pinterest.  I have LOST my camera and can't take a picture of the ones I made.  I lost my camera over the Thanksgiving Holidays and can't find it ANYWHERE.  It was a new little OLYMPUS point & shoot that HAS to be in this house SOMEWHERE!!!

My Tissue Holders are very similar to these.
 I copied this take-along sewing kit using lots of Lori Holt's fabric lines...Sew Cherry is my favorite.

Some Christmas Granny Squares
These are addicting to make.
I keep coming up with new color schemes.
and search Lori Holt's blog for tutorial.  She has a great binding tutorial up now.
 Green Granny Blocks (SEW CHERRY)
 Red Granny Blocks (SEW CHERRY)

Remember my Tablerunner from The Think Christmas Blog Hop??
It is now in the binding stage and almost ready for Table.  It may be wrapped up as a gift.

I now have Christmas Tree bound.  I left as is without quilting due to the texture of the background fabric which you can't really see in this picture.  

More to come......

What are YOU sewing for Christmas?

Blessings


Sunday, December 9, 2012

SUGAR COOKIE DEBACLE OF 2012

 BAKING CHRISTMAS COOKIES
SHOULD BE EASY....RIGHT?

NOT SO FAST
all you Martha Stewart wannabe's..

Making perfect sugar cookies with the grandpeeps Saturday Night.  We found the perfect cookie recipe on-line and even watched a video showing us how to have fool-proof dough!  We gathered our ingredients, mixed up our dough using the BIG MIXER, and...........
WHAT???
This looks like BATTER, NOT DOUGH
SO...added more FLOUR....
We put our dough in Plastic Wrap...
Plopped it in the Fridge...
Grandpeeps took Baths...
1 HOUR Later

PERFECTLY CHILLED COOKIE DOUGH?

REALITY...
STICKY DOUGH
(FARM EGGS MAKE DOUGH YELLOW)

Right about now, we should be rolling our dough, cutting out shapes with my vintage Christmas Cookie Cutters, Baking, AND....
DECORATING

INSTEAD OF HO HO HO 
IT'S NO NO NO...

DOUGH STUCK 
Shapes were torn as we scraped them from cutters and work surface.  We added more flour which will mean our cookie will taste dry and like flour.

WE HAVE WHAT I LIKE TO CALL

HOT MESS
 
By now, the Grandpeeps are tired, cranky and ready for bed, not to mention Gmama is ready to throw the entire bowl of dough in the garbage...
WHICH I DO!!!!
YEP, DUMPED THAT PUPPY RIGHT IN THE OL TRASHCAN...
PASSED OFF GRANDPEEPS TO PAPAW
AND
GMAMA HEADED STRAIGHT FOR A SHOWER AND A PROMISE TO LOOK FOR THE PERFECT SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE...TOMORROW!

SO MUCH FOR MY MARTHA STEWART HOLIDAY MOMENT

HERE IS MY PLAN B:


LAURA IN THE KITCHEN'S
BEST VANILLA COOKIE RECIPE

Ingredients:
1 ¾ cups of All Purpose Flour
½ tsp of Baking Powder
½ tsp of Salt
¼ tsp of Baking Soda
1 cup of Unsalted Butter at room temperature
1 cup of Granulated Sugar
1 Egg
½ tsp of Vanilla Extract
½ cup of Granulated Sugar for rolling cookies in



  1. After you have made your dough, separate it into about four balls.  Place a sheet of waxed paper on a cookie sheet, and then put one of the balls on it.  Cover with another sheet of waxed paper and roll the dough to a thickness of about ½ inch.  Do this for each ball, and stack them up, using waxed paper between each layer.
  2. Put your rolled-out dough in the refrigerator and chill for two to three hours.  If you can leave them overnight, that’s even better.
  3. When they have chilled, take one sheet out at a time to let the others continue to chill.  Let the dough warm – but not up to room temperature. It needs to be a little cool.
  4. Peel off the top layer of waxed paper.  Sprinkle a little flour onto the dough, put the waxed paper back in place, and then flip it over.  Peel off the other sheet.
  5. Now it’s time to cut.  Lightly flour your cookie cutter and carefully cut your shapes.  You can cut right on the waxed paper. If it slips, wipe your counter with a damp cloth to get it to stay in place.  To get the most out of your dough, start cutting on the edges and move towards the middle.
  6. Put dough scraps into a plastic baggie and then reroll them when you have enough to make a sheet.
HAPPY BAKING,



Monday, December 3, 2012

GRATITUDE IS ENOUGH

 Today's post
is my short but meaningful
 Gratitude List
for the week.

WORDS
My friend, Madame Samm from Sew We Quilt
has challenged us to ponder over specific words that will define each of us for 2013....
our Mantra for 2013 if you will!
We are to fill up "Our Wall" throughout the month of Dec. as we approach the New Year, 2013, and then turn those words into
our own quilted treasures...a quilt, wall hanging, banner, mugg rugg, etc....Use our imagination! Join us...it's for everyone!

FAMILY
Black Friday
Christmas Shopping Trip 2012


JAMES AND SANTA
2012

The Christmas Tree on James's vest belonged to his 
Great Grandmother (my sweet mama!)
She wore this every Holiday season that I can ever remember.

I'll have more Grandpeeps to show as pics become available...after all
this blog is Grandmama's Stories!

WARM DECEMBER BLESSINGS


Sunday, December 2, 2012

THE BEE STING THAT GOT MY ATTENTION!

WHO KNEW WHAT HAVOC A BEE STING
COULD BRING??
YES, INDEED...THIS LITTLE HONEY BEE SURE GOT MY ATTENTION IN MORE WAYS THAN  I COULD HAVE IMAGINED!

Last Monday as I drove home from grocery shopping, I felt a sudden sharp sting on the lower portion of my upper arm muscle.  I tried to look, drive, and brush away whatever was obviously stinging me all the while trying to stay between the lines of the approaching curve in the road.  I kept control of the car, however, I got the full force/dose of the bee venom.  The little sucker was trying to fly out my left side window while it's entire patootie,stinger and all, was pulsing it's poison into my right arm.  Folks, can I just say IT HURT!!!  IT HURT LIKE CRAZY!!!

I got home within 10 minutes, sprayed some benadryl spray on the bee sting and grabbed an ice pack from the freezer.  AAAHHH....Instant relief.  However, I couldn't get any relief without holding the ice on the sting at all times which was impossible as the day wore on and I needed to do other things with my right arm!!!

Flash Forward to Tuesday morning...
I wake up with a HUGE RED KNOT, Hot with fever and progressively getting bigger and itchier!  
It got MUCH WORSE!
I called my doctor and got the nurse practitioner to tell me what to take OTC for a bee sting.  I took every potion known to man, OTC, Home remedy, you name it, I tried it.  By now you're probably thinking, WHY DOESN'T SHE JUST GO TO THE DOCTOR????  I DON'T KNOW, I KEPT THINKING IT WAS GOING TO GET BETTER...
SO...
BY THURSDAY, I GO TO MY SASSY SEWERS GROUP AND BY 2:00 I'M IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE!

THE REST OF THE STORY...
MY TYPE II DIABETES COMPLICATES THINGS WHEN I HAVE TO TAKE ANY KIND OF STEROIDS.  THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE TYPE II DIABETES ALREADY KNOW THIS FACT.
THE TRUTH IS, I HAVEN'T BEEN TAKING MY *BORDER-LINE DIABETES* SERIOUSLY
UNTIL NOW...
SINCE THURSDAY, MY BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS HAVE BEEN AS HIGH AS 308, 274, 275, 288, 301, 168, 253, 280!
GIVING MYSELF AN INSULIN SHOT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE HAS DEFINITELY, WITHOUT A DOUBT,
GOTTEN MY ATTENTION.
LONG STORY SHORT............
THIS LITTLE "FLUFFY" GAL IS GOING TO BEAT THIS THING.  I WILL NOT LIVE MY LIFE FROM INSULIN SHOT TO FINGER PRICK IF THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN GO TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING.

When I truly set my mind to do something, I'm usually quite successful.  The key WORD is TRULY, the sold out kind of TRULY!

I NEED CHEERLEADERS!!!

I've cut and pasted some Type II Diabetes info from WebMD just in case some of you my dear friends and followers need a good BEE STING to get YOUR ATTENTION.
P.S.
I NOW HAVE TO CARRY AN EPIPEN
OUCH!!!



TYPE II DIABETES
Type 2 diabetes, once called non-insulin dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes, affecting 90% to 95% of the 26 million Americans with diabetes. In this article, you'll learn the basics about type 2 diabetes, including symptoms and causes, as well as learn about type 2 diabetes in children.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin; however, either their pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin adequately. This is called insulin resistance. When there isn't enough insulin or the insulin is not used as it should be, glucose (sugar) can't get into the body's cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, the body's cells are not able to function properly. Other problems associated with the buildup of glucose in the blood include:
  • Damage to the body. Over time, the high glucose levels in the blood may damage the nerves and small blood vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and heart and predispose a person to atherosclerosis (hardening) of the large arteries that can cause heart attack and stroke.
  • Dehydration. The buildup of sugar in the blood can cause an increase in urination. When the kidneys lose the glucose through the urine, a large amount of water is also lost, causing dehydration.
  • Diabetic Coma (Hyperosmolar nonketotic diabetic coma) .When a person with type 2 diabetes becomes very ill or severely dehydrated and is not able to drink enough fluids to make up for the fluid losses, they may develop this life-threatening complication.
At present, the diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes is based in an arbitrary cut-off point for a normal blood sugar level. A normal sugar level is currently considered to be less than 100 mg/dL when fasting and less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating. But in most healthy people, sugar levels are even lower.
During the day, blood glucose levels tend to be at their lowest just before meals. For most people without diabetes, blood sugar levels before meals hover around 70 to 80 mg/dL. In some, 60 is normal; in others, 90. Again, anything less than 100 mg/dL while fasting is considered normal by today's standards.
What's a low sugar level? It varies widely, too. Many people's sugar levels won't ever fall below 60 mg/dL, even with prolonged fasting. When you diet or fast, the liver keeps sugar levels normal by turning fat and muscle into sugar. A few people's sugar levels may fall somewhat lower. 

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