Monthly Archives: June 2016

Isaiah’s Lamp

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Clouds

They are hanging over our home today.

I regularly post on my other blog a Tasty Thursday post.

I am not talking food today. We have to stop and pay respects to a young life that has passed on last evening. Each morning I read a Bible passage and this morning I came to Mark 4:21- 25. Jesus is speaking about not hiding your lamp under a basket or a bowl. Naturally, it would be starved of oxygen and get snuffed out. He goes on to say, To the one who has, more will be given.

Clearly little Isaiah was given much hardship. But the one thing he had that he did not keep hidden under a basket was his beautiful smile and personality. He was given this light to shine on all of us. We will forever have this imprinted on our hearts and lives. The blessing is ours to have and hold in all the precious memories he’s left behind. We can’t understand the huge scope of things in life many times, but we can each be a better person by modeling after someone like Isaiah. He gives us inspiration that no matter the trials of life, we should keep shining our light to help others see the beauty in all things. In truth, he showed us Love.

I posted a tribute to Isaiah in 2015 prior to his 5th birthday for the A to Z April Challenge. I’d like to reshare it today and urge you to visit the VWM website just to learn more and show his family some support with your thoughts and prayers.

The Wi”Z”ard of O”Z” for Isaiah

Oz, as you all know is where the tornado blew Dorothy to in the classic movie Wizard of Oz. Dorothy encounters trials and tribulations and meets friends along the way to assist her (and themselves) along the path, The Yellow Brick Road. The moral of the story as they find the Wizard is that the things you seek are inside you all along. You just need to believe in yourself.

Easier said than done sometimes.

This last 2 years, we’ve been honored to meet a young lady and her son who has a terminal illness. It’s called Vanishing White Matter Disease. You can learn more about this disease on the website, http://ulf.org/vanishing-white-matter-disease . Their yellow brick road has been bumpy to put it mildly.

For my final A to Z Challenge post for 2015, I am dedicating this one to Isaiah and his mom, Bethany. Their journey has been extremely difficult as Isaiah is only 4 years old and is a daily inspiration to us with his constant smiles.

I believe in the power of prayer and my request to my fellow bloggers, family and friends, from all over the world is to please say one for them. Pray for peace, strength, healing and a cure for future generations. May Isaiah’s story teach us all the importance of love and holding fast to the small moments in life.

Thank you and thanks for reading my blog this 2015 Challenge.

More Isaiah below:
http://fox4kc.com/?s=kcmo+fire+grants+make+a+wish

Update on Isaiah 6/28/16
https://www.facebook.com/FightliketheChamp/posts/821670967934436
Please continue to keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

 

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State Fair

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Opening Line

 

Dating back to 1901, our State Fair City will once again be invaded by all sorts of folks. Tourists, vendors, hooligans and about all of the Missouri State Highway patrolmen and women that can be housed in our motels for a good 30-mile radius.

It was the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last………Sunset over the carnival grounds.

Opening Line

My first entry into the ‘Discover Challenge’. Hope you’ll check out other entries here.

 

Trip, Trap, Trip, Trap

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Water

 

This Daily Prompt brought a smile to my face because I have just the photo for you.

Our Story of the Day,

“The Three Billy Goats Gruff”

Of course there was water under that bridge. But the goats couldn’t just let by gones be by gones ‘like so much water under the bridge’. No. They had to get to their lush green pastures. The kiddos were pretty indignant being it was nearly lunchtime and had some suggestions for that bad ‘tude’.

Troll

And just for the record, Hudson’s “This” did not include anything derogatory. Just a lovely smile. 🙂

No Matter

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Deprive

Here’s a before pic of my dill I am growing this summer.

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If you look closely you may see the honey bees among the flowers. As I said, this was ‘before’. Last night we had some wind and heavy rain. Sorely needed rain.

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This is the result. As of this morning, they haven’t regained their posture. I do believe I will be deprived of further abundance of dill. Those pathetic cucumbers next to the dill are evidence enough that it is probably not going to matter anyway. Not a cucumber year for me. If they aren’t making by now, it’s probably not gonna happen. Gotta love Missouri weather.

Indulging/Sunday Sampler

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Sunday Sampler

So it was rainy today and I was able to ignore the gardening/mowing and simply ‘indulge’ in sewing. Pinterest got me hooked again and I found a lil tutorial. I decided to try to ammend a personal attempt from earlier and ended up with basically a hot mess.                                       (See largest photo in this collage)earbudpouch

The leftover fabric from Rachel’s t-shirt quilt came in handy for my second attempt. It’s not perfect either, but it’ll help a certain someone keep track of their ear buds better. ahem!! Inserting momma-attention-please throat clearing.

Stockings in June

This collage is the beginning of the stocking creations for the upcoming Christmas season. Using up trim and various fabrics before I hit the upholstery section in the stores. In case you wondered, these are said fabrics. I highly recommend checking out these gorgeous options. They give your mantle a more posh appearance than calico or even silk stockings.

Someone on Facebook reminded us this is the 6 month mark til Christmas.

Now aren’t you glad you read my blog today??

Sorry.

 

 

 

 

They Just Go Together

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Partners

StCharlesMO

Early example of “Partners”.

Horse & Buggy

A real Budweiser Clydesdale on the farm and a buggy I wouldn’t want a ride in.

IMG_2515Brooks&Dunn

Miss these partners making new music. Maybe they’ll reunite due to lack of funds????

Or just because I’m asking them to here 🙂

For other great entries in the WordPress Photo Challenge, click here.

Is It Worth the Drive?

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Companion

What would you think if your watched your neighbor and her twenty-something daughter leave the house on a Friday night in 93 degree heat carrying a little 6-pack cooler/ice chest? Try as I might, I don’t think we looked casual with that in hand. I’m almost sure I had a smirk on my face.

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But just to settle the question, there was only “Ice” in the cooler. We were heading to another town to get some frozen yogurt. Rachel swore it was worth the drive. It’s 25 minutes from home.

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Rachel ate hers immediately. I had the cooler for mine and a ‘companion’ container for the hubster. The rest of our food purchase was for dinner and reheatable and maybe I’ll show you that in another post. For now, just know this was definitely worth that drive time. Have you ever had Birthday Cake frozen yogurt?

Happy Birthday Mom!/Summer

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Summer

Easter moms2

Mother, far right Mother-in-law, middle Youngest daughter, Kirsten, far left

Mother turns 73 today! This year it’s on the first day of summer and on the lunar/solar event. Since she has a great view of the horizon at her rural home, we’re hoping for some great photo ops 🙂 Of course they would call for rain today after weeks of none. So we’ll see.

Say No To Paparazzi2
One thing is for sure, Mother wants no big birthday bash. So a quiet visit this evening walking around her garden and enjoying a vanilla shake will do just fine!

And that’s just how a lovely first day of summer will begin.

Part 2- Years Bound Together

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Sunday Sampler

I’m pleased to present Part 2 of the ‘Years Bound Together‘ project completed by my eldest daughter and myself last Sunday.

We decided on a layout.

The Layout

sorry for being redundant.

Before the clipThis gives you a view of the way the blocks are sewn together.

  • You need 2 equal-sized blocks, 1 front and 1 back. Our back blocks are 100% cotton.
  • It’s important to place each block set with wrong sides together.
  • While sewing, the back sides will be facing right sides together.
  • You’ll have 4 layers of blocks.
  • This results in the seam exposed to the front.
  • This seam is to be clipped carefully. Don’t clip past the stitch or you may have issues after washing.
  • If you do clip past the stitching, go back before washing and give it a little reinforcement with a zig zag stitch or two. No one will see this 🙂finished rag quilt

 

We used some of the odd sizes for the top and bottom border. Some of these border pieces are from polo shirts that were details about past offices held. You could easily use any decorative or plain piece of a t-shirt that would give you a border. Be creative!

front back view rag quilt

Playing around with color editing really brings out the chevron design of the backing. It is Shiny 🙂  Even after washing.

Quote that seems to go with this project: 
Memories are the architecture of our identity. (Author Unknown)

Hope your Father’s Day 2016 is filled with beautiful memories!

The Bend/WordPress Photo Challenge

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Curve

Flat Creek

Growing up in the country, you sit by a creek and always wonder what’s around that curve ahead; better known around here as “the bend”.

Hope all you dads out there find the perfect fishin’ hole this Father’s Day weekend.

For other great Photo Challenge entries, click here.