A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.

 John Muir

Penny Rug

Finished my Penny Rug. I’m happy with the way it came out. I used vintage mother of pearl buttons in the center of each ‘penny’. It measures 15″x9″.

The County Fair

Over the weekend, I went to The Washington County Fair. We had beautiful weather to wander through the agriculture and craft exhibits, and to shop the vendor booths. The antique tractors were on display. Some would be used later in the fair for the tractor pull. One tractor was the same age as me. Does that make me an antique? I like that better than being ‘old’.
I enjoyed clam cakes and a bowl of clam chowder. Saw the deep fried Oreo cookies go by and decided I could pass on them. Listened to a local band at the small stage then stopped and watched the ox pull for a while. It was early in the evening, so the lighter weight teams were still pulling.

Part of the fun at an event like this is the people-watching. Tots ‘washing’ dish towels on an old washboard and hanging them to dry on a clothesline strung a foot off the ground. The three old (antiques like me) men sitting round the bathroom tip bucket, trading stories. The little boy sitting in a kiddie pool filled with dry corn, playing with a sand pail and shovel. The Boy Scouts looking sharp in their uniforms and selling kettle corn. (Cooking that stuff is a dangerous job!) The elderly Mennonite couple discussing at length a beautiful quilt in the craft exhibit.

Then it was on to the barns to see the animals. Watch where you step!

 

The Blue Crab Blues

I met him on an early morning walk on the beach. He was at the water’s edge on his back, legs waving in the air.

Thought I’d lend a hand by flipping him right side up. I expected him to scuttle back into the water, grateful for my heroics.
He didn’t move.
I nudged him with my sneaker which, because I was barefoot, I held in my hand.
He rose up on his legs and tried to look threatening but would have nothing to do with helping himself.
I stamped my feet.
He waved his claws in defiance.
What a grump! I showed a little mercy and got attitude in return. So I wished him luck fending off hungry seagulls and went on my way.

The episode made me think about my life. How many times has God shown me mercy and set me back on my feet? Like the silly crab, there have been times I’ve refused to follow God’s leading and chose to depend on myself. Instead of submerging myself in God’s will and tender care, I’ve sat high and dry on the sand, thinking now that I was right side up, I had everything under control. Only to have another wave of heartache or suffering come along and flip me upside down again.

On my return walk, the crab was still there. Once again he’d been caught in the wash of a wave and flipped on his back.

I walked away.

God never walks away. He give’s second chances. (Even if it’s 200th second chance.)

I will never leave you or forsake you. 
Hebrews 13:5 

 

 

 

 

 

Fluffy Bow and Cupcake Birthday Card

I love cupcakes. Yum! My British employer calls them Fairy cakes. How cute is that name?

I used my Stampin’ Up Cupcake Punch and Martha Stewart Small Ribbon Threader Edge Punch for this card. The sheer ribbon is 1″ wide and makes a nice fluffy bow.

Conversation with God

Hi God,

Life feels like an amusement park ride without the amusement.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55:8

No kidding, God! I really don’t understand why things have to be the way they are in this country right now. I want my country strong again. I want hard working folks to have jobs and be able to support themselves on their wages. I want the elderly cared for and my son’s generation to live well and prosper.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

I want to understand your plan for this country’s future. On second thought, maybe not. Do I really want a god I can fully understand? That would make you no bigger or mightier than the humans who created the mess.

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. Mark 11:22

Easier said than done. Some days it’s just plain hard to have faith.

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

Thank you, God, for that promise. A worry-wart like me needs to be reminded of that. I believe you… except when I don’t. Like the father of the little boy Jesus healed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

The Greatest of Dangers…

I place economy among the first and most important republican virtues, and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.
Thomas Jefferson, third US president, architect and author (1743-1826)

Misquamicut State Beach, Rhode Island

A beautiful day today! Went to the beach to have lunch with friends.

Weekapuag in the distance. I’d like to thank the seagulls for cooperating with my photo shoot.

Looking towards the Watch Hill Lighthouse.

The salt pond and salt marsh on the other side of Atlantic Avenue.

Pillows From A Vintage Quilt

The cloth is fragile and the colors muddy with age. The squares are machine stitched but the quilting is done by hand. The quilt stitches vary in length, some long – toenail catchers – and some short. The lines of stitching aren’t straight.

To make these little pillows, I salvaged squares from a stained and worn vintage quilt. I can’t help but wonder about the person who created it. Was she a young girl just learning to quilt or an older woman with an unsteady hand? Did she sew in the evenings after her work was done? Did she have a dress made from the gold fabric? Was it even a woman who made the quilt? So many questions. I wish the quilt could talk.

I added the vintage buttons and a small hand crocheted doily ‘medallion’.

The Truth

Truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it. Flannery O’Connor, writer (1925-1964)