Article "Depression is Not a Scandal" by Jamie Wright - Good Info

 It’s good to review this much needed info. 

Something to think about --

WARNING! a few choice words you may not be comfortable with so feel free to skip or "enjoy the meat and spit out the bones":

Quote from the article/post "Depression is Not a Scandal" by Jamie Wright:

"... No one has ever suggested that if I only prayed harder, my thyroid disease would be cured.
No one has ever suggested that I'm clinging to sin which is causing my thyroid to malfunction.
No one has ever suggested that I need to get right with Jesus to heal my thyroid.
No one has ever grown uncomfortable or gone silent when I've mentioned my thyroid disorder.
Do you know how much stigma is attached to having a thyroid that misfires? ZERO STIGMA. I can talk about it at church. I can pick up my meds without getting sideways glances from old ladies. I can sleep aaaaaall daaaaay looooong because my Tsh levels are off - no one bats an eyelash. But, apparently, I'm supposed to stay quiet about depression because, apparently, the chemical imbalance that causes depression makes other people uncomfortable ..."

Read entire article/post here:
"Depression is Not a Scandal" by Jamie Wright

A New Year

 A “New Year” once again — it’s the same and it’s different — being. 

The Bumps in the Road

 The bumps in the road are some times more like potholes. At least is seems somewhat like that the past year and a half dealing with the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the past eight years have been rough with some life altering events. I’m still here, working on several things related to these events, in very slow motion, more focused.

The tropical summer was disappointing and I hibernated in my air conditioning most of the time. And it’s not over yet.

I’m hoping for fresh, cool air and a restart soon. 

Leaning into the Love of The One Who Loved Us First

It’s the new year and I’m leaning into the love of The One who loved us first and showed us and taught us how to love.

My Common, Everyday Life

I'm so very thankful for my common, everyday life.  “As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness -- just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder~

Photo source: superbwallpapers.com

One of my favorite songs is "Count Your Blessings" by three singers: Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby and Diana Krall. Great song for the holiday season coming up and all year long for that matter.

Rosemary Clooney:


Bing Crosby:


Diana Krall:

'Tis Autumn But My Calendar Isn't Current!

Summer has slipped away, October is almost over and I haven't even updated my dry-erase calendar yet. It isn't current, it still says September, it really is AUTUMN. The back yard landscaping is done for the most part with some final touches needed next Spring. We've been enjoying this beautiful Autumn weather, candle lit evenings on the porch, walks at the park and in the neighborhood, Autumn soups, fresh orchard Honeycrisp Apples with popcorn, & Pumpkin Spice coffee. Our neighborhood is peaking right now with rich color and the leaves are twirling down rapidly with the cool breezes. They'll need to be raked soon. I'm also staying very busy helping my daughter with her new fur baby, Oscar, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. He arrived in June and the days are filled with fun and caring for him. I forgot how much time and work and energy it requires in the first year of puppy life! Oscar really enjoys his walks & rustling in the leaves. With the holidays around the corner I hope to update more on my blog as Oscar is fitting into our schedule more and more.

One of my favorite songs "'Tis Autumn" by Stacey Kent:

Happy Autumn!

Sky & Scones

Saturday was a great day -- I made Strawberry Scones for breakfast. This recipe: Vegan Apricot Scones was easy and delicious. I changed it, used Strawberries instead and I will make these again.

Saturday was also my cousins surprise birthday and I got to help her celebrate. While out driving after going to my cousin's birthday party, I couldn't help stopping to take photos of the sky. It was magnificent, the weather was beautiful. Clouds attract me. I find them very appealing, especially these peaceful ones.

"You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds."

~Henry David Thoreau~

The trees are just starting to get that beautiful, soft, yellow-green haze of new growth about them. And there's plenty of new growth inside my home too. My little seedlings are waiting patiently for Spring, real Spring, so they can get planted in the garden. I'm hopeful that it will be soon.

Friday: Freebies & Featured Etsy Finds

I love Etsy and here is a wonderful shop owned by Susan: Greenlee and Vine. She has many wonderful items, some that I recently purchased: these lovely little hands and several vintage photos. I am very pleased. They are now sitting on my oak hutch in my dining room. Susan describes her items accurately, promptly ships items within her stated time frame, and packages items to protect them well.

Do you have a favorite etsy shop or have special ones where you have purchased from and you recommend? If so, I'd love to hear about them. 

Red & Pink, Hook & Thread

I've been busy getting back into my routine again where I'm spending more time on my creative projects. The weather is slowly getting warmer and I've also been working in my yard and garden. There's a bit of color - I've found red being the Rhubarb:

and pink being my daughters shoes. She's helping with turning the soil:

We even got the "Sugar Daddy" Snap Peas in and hopefully it will stay the right temperature for germanation!

Inside I'm working on yellow, ivory, ecru, beige flowers -- handmade crochet flowers and trims for my art projects:

"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life."

~John Burroughs~

This is Spring & The World is Young again . . .

Winter has been long and cold, still holding on to blow across the area once again for a blustery day today. It's slowing down the progress of Spring. Nevertheless, it's officially SPRING and I'm starting to think of my garden and other Spring projects, my current art project, the first is a series I think - "The World is Young" - wonder & whimsy of childhood:

SPRING thoughts:

She wore her yellow sun-bonnet,
She wore her greenest gown;
She turned to the South wind
And curtsied up and down
She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbour;
"Winter is dead"
~AA Milne~

Close your eyes

and do not peek

and I’ll rub Spring

across your cheek

smooth as satin,

soft and sleek

close your eyes

and do not peek

~Aileen Fisher~

Close beside the path they were following a bird suddenly chirped from the branch of a tree. It was answered by the chuckle of another bird a little further off. And then . . . there was chattering and chirruping in every direction, and then a moment of full song, and within five minutes the whole wood was ringing with birds’ music. 

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, (Chapter 11,. 121

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell.

~Solomon 2:11-13~

“This is no thaw," said the dwarf, suddenly stopping. "This is Spring. What are we to do? Your winter has been destroyed, I tell you! This is Aslan’s doing.”

~Dwarf~ 

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, (Chapter 11, p. 122)

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

~1 John 3:8~

Crochet Christmas Holiday Light Bulbs

I took a break from my Christmas Stars to work on this new project. It's been fun to make and I have more ideas to make my own version some time in the future. They're easy, don't take a lot of yarn, and can be made to any desired length. I finished mine in two days and they are now hanging in my dining room.

I found the free pattern: Amigurumi Holiday Lights at The Dapper Toad. She put sweet little faces on her lights which I love but I wanted mine to be simply the bulbs.

There is another version by a creative being that I want to try too: Christmas Light Tutorial. It's a free pattern also.

Now, I'm going back to work on my Christmas Stars.

Enjoy!

The Practical Use of Talent

Edith Schaeffer said of the "practical use" of talent:

". . . it may be helpful to consider some of the possibilities all of us have of really living artistically, but which are often ignored. People often look with longing into a daydream future, while ignoring the importance of the present. We are all in danger of thinking, 'Some day I shall be fulfilled. Some day I shall have the courage to start another life which will develop my talent', without ever considering the very practical use of that talent today in a way which will enrich other people's lives, develop the talent, and express the fact of being a creative creature." (The Hidden Art of Homemaking, p33)

My mother and the women of my family were not always aware that they lived creatively everyday, practically using their talent in the day-to-day moments --- but they did in many ways that inspired me while growing up. They were wonderful teachers of the "hidden arts" of everyday homemaking ARTS by their example and by giving wonderful instructions in these arts. They continue to inspire me to this day. I am so proud of them and blessed by them.

My new project "Winter Stars" - once again inspired by my mother's creativity (her vintage crocheted ivory Star she made for me some years ago, my white and gray stars):

New On-going Autumn Project

Writing about sadness and grief is not easy or some thing I am comfortable with. I usually keep so much of that inside. For the past two and a half years my sister and I watched our mother slowly loose her strength and health and ultimately her life in August. We thought we had more time with her. Several boxes of crochet magazines we were looking at in July and August are still sitting in the living room. The magazines are laying there in stacks just the same way we put them when we were all together. I asked my sister if we could leave them there as the last we sort through. It's a way to keep her close. I already have a hard time hearing her voice and I'm afraid I won't be able to remember the sound of her voice at all.

Since August, my sister and I have spent time together every week, going through Mom's things, talking, reminiscing, crying. Not really wanting to sort her belongings but not able to bear to keep them either. There is so much joy mingled with this great sadness. Memories and even more emotions emerge when coming across a book or a paper, a photograph, a school paper, a note in her handwriting, a treasured trinket, a crochet doily. Each placed in a box to look at later, knowing it is something she would want us to have and keep. Parts of our hearts and lives are being sorted and stored. Now, we are finally getting closer to being through the last of her things BUT closer to the moment when the completed task reminds us fully that she is gone, no longer with us. The boxes are closed with a heavy feeling.

My Mom loved to crochet and was very talented; she designed some of her own patterns. She had lots of yarn skeins and yarn scraps. So, I've decided to keep some of her yarn out and start an on-going-as-time-allows "autumn" crochet project. It's going to be a Granny Square project of sorts, using some of the earthy, autumn colored yarn. I'm not exactly sure what I will make yet but it will be in honor and memory of my Mom, a thread from her to those of us who remain. This is the beginning of my "Autumn Leaves" project:

It reflects some of the color of the leaves from a tree on my street in the neighborhood this season:

 

 "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." 

~Albert Camus~

Time With My Dear Mother

It seems all I ever say any more is how fast times flies, I am so busy yet I am behind, not here at my blog or art, not in my regular routine. And, it is true once again. Not that time flies but that I've been busy and not the sort of "busy" due to too many activities. My "busy" has been of limited activities this year; limited to basic things, my part time retail job and helping my sister take care of my dear Mother. Since my post in March I have been able to work in a few things but my Mother has been my primary concern. After becoming weaker the past three years, her poor heart condition and aging progressed even more quickly this year. She was in and out of the hospital five times, with the fifth stay in the hospital her last. She passed away August 13th. These were her final days, the days to make her as comfortable as possible. We spent our time together talking with her about her childhood, looking through family photos, making her favorite foods, eating midnight snacks, looking through crochet patterns and helping her more each day with tasks she could no longer do for herself. We always told each other "I love you"  each day. I enjoyed each bittersweet moment together with her not knowing if it would be the last. They were special moments in a different way because I saw my mother with different eyes. I was so proud of her and so glad she was my mother, and I still am. There will always be grief to some degree for me until I see my Mother again. Loss is the great leveler, a disturbing, suffocating blow. Time does NOT heal, only gives distance and coming to terms with a loss. Grief and mourning IS HARD, even scary. Only God is the great healer, cushioning the impact. Yet at times it is a struggle to trust Him and to be sure of His care. Loss and grief affect everyone differently and everyone grieves differently. My comfort is that I know some day we will be together again and walk upon the streets of gold with the rest of our family and our Lord. For now, I know she is always with me in my heart.


"Lord: it is time.
The huge summer has gone by.
Now overlap the sundials with your shadows,
and on the meadows let the wind go free.
Command the fruits to swell on tree and vine;
Grant them a few more transparent days,
urge them on to fulfillment then,
press the final sweetness into the heavy wine."
~Rainer Maria Rilke~ Autumn

"In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10

What a Lovely Name - "Adelaide" ATC

I've always loved the names for girls that end in the long "e" sound. Both my daughters have long "e" sound ending for their names. Recently I was going through some of my old books to use text and old paper for a project and came across a book owned and signed by the owner. Her name was Adelaide. I loved the name the moment I saw it written in this person's own handwriting. I wonder who she was, what she looked like, what her life was like. I decided to use her handwritten name with a photo of a beautiful little girl from the past. Perhaps she looked similar, perhaps entirely different but an Adelaide from around the turn of the century did live and exist. One of my latest ATCs "Adalaide"

Adelaide - as a girl's name is pronounced AD-a-layd. It is French form of Old German origin, and the meaning of Adelaide is "noble (adal)  kind (heid)". It was borne in the 10th century by Saint Adelaide, , the wife of the Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great. The name became common in Britain in the 19th century due to the popularity of the German-born wife of King William IV, for whom the city of Adelaide in Australia was named in 1836.

Trift Store Treasure

My life has slowed down in one sense but just as full in another. One place that I am able to slow down and relax is at a thrift store. I love to walk through the aisles looking over the items on the shelves, I relax with just looking. Some times I go with a specific thing in mind to look for, perhaps a book, crochet doilies, old artist paint brushes and some times with nothing in mind. Just to look. A couple of weeks ago I came across a treasure, one I had not set out to look for (a lot of my treasures are found while looking for some thing else) but nevertheless I knew I had found my treasure for the day. There sat a vintage paper hole punch. A vintage multiple hole punch made by Mutual Products Inc, Massachusetts 1950's -- dusty, dingy, grimy, oily, very dull looking but I knew it could be cleaned up and very useful. Here it is as found:

Here it is cleaned and shiny, ready to use for projects:

There are still some visible scratches and wear but for $1.98 but I don't really see them. ;-) What vintage treasure have you found?

Yellow Is My Favorite Color!

"The colour holds such warmth, brightness and attraction for us because it is the colour of the sun, the source that sustains us.  In terms of its physics, yellow has absorbed red and green and then reflects yellow back.  Red is the colour of life, blood and fire; and green the colour of growth and hope.  Little wonder that yellow has such a life-giving brightness. . . .  Goethe says: ‘Yellow brings with her the nature of brightness and has a delightful, encouraging, exciting and soft quality.’ " 

~John O’Donohue~ Divine Beauty

What is your favorite color and how do you use it in your art? 

New Art -- A Tag and Card

The past weeks have been a blur and passed quickly. In addition to helping my sis take care of my Mom, I've changed jobs and now back at my old job which is not as fast paced. So that has helped in reducing some stress in my life. My Mom is doing better and back at home so I'll continue to help with her. We're going through her belongings, sorting, decluttering, packing up what she wants to keep. Maybe in a couple of months she will be able move into a smaller place, an apartment.

I'm trying to rest a bit and enjoy the beautiful Spring weather. But not resting for too long. I've been able to do a little gardening and have some herbs and tomato plants started. I have even been able to work on a little bit of art and on my Etsy shop but it will be a while yet before it's open.

I also made a decision to invest in a die cut machine. Having a limited art budget and working space, I've been debating over die cutters for several long months. I finally decided to go with the Sizzix Big Shot. I didn't want a large, detailed, expensive die cutter so I've only looked over the hand operated ones. I narrowed it down between the Sizzix and the Cuttlebug but finally decided on the Sizzix Big Shot which I purchased at Amazon. First of all, it's in my price range, secondly I like the look of the base. The longer base appeared to be have the amount of room I'm looking for and sturdy enough to prevent tipping. From viewing some online videos about using the different die cutters, the Sizzix fit my needs. I like that different brands of dies can be used on the Sizzix. I bought five dies to get started with: Primitive Hearts, Scalloped Circles, Sizzix Movers and Shapers Tim Holtz Tag & Bookplate die, Spellbinders Nestabilities Card Creator Rectangles, and Spellbinders Shapeabilities Home Sweet Home. I'll experiment with these for a while but I'm sure I will purchase a few more dies that I think I will use often.  It just arrived a few days ago and I've already started using it! Anyone else have a die cut machine, especially the Sizzix Big Shot?

Here's  a couple of my creations using the large tag, wings, and little hearts dies:

Welcome Spring!!!

Spring has arrived with chilly wind and snow flurries where I live but I'll go with the calendar to mark moving on to the next season! A few buds are appearing. The Pussy Willows, so soft and fuzzy, while little green stems are peeping through the earth. Moving on to a new season in a new, some what difficult way. My dear 82 year old Mother has been in the hospital for a week and is now temporarily at a physical therapy rehabilitation facility so my days are filled with visiting her. This is the beginning of giving back to her in a new way, of caregiver, protecting her, helping her. She was always there for me and now it is my turn to be there for her. There will be hard struggles ahead but with my Mother there will be much sweetness and smiles mixed in. 

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."
~Joseph Addison~

Art Image: New England Landscape in Spring by George Henry Smillie 1898

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I'm sharing some of the wonderful links I've found for Valentine's Day projects. SOOO many!

Painted Newspaper Hearts from You Are My Fave

Floating Heart Backdrop from Hank and Hunt

DIY Heart Garland from The Sweetest Occasion

Fabric Valentine Heart Garland from How About Orange

Tulle Pom Pom Garland from eighteen25

Printable Made With Love Tag from eighteen25

DIY Fiesta Banner from Hi, Friend Design

Simple Shell Valentine Heart from Sand and Sisal

Rustic Little Valentine from Folk Lifestyle

Basic Gray Vintage Card Connection from Basic Gray

Various Valentine Cards from Poppytalk

Food Art How to Carve a Heart Shaped Carrot from Recipe By Photo

Very, Very Valentine-y Sewing Projects from Sew4Home

Velvet Heart Giveaway from The Inspired Room



Baking Hearts!

Sweethart Cupcakes from Glorious Treats

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies from Sally's Baking Addiction

Be Loved Brownies from Very Best Baking

Pink Snowball Puffs from Pamela's Heavenly Treats

Red Velvet Oreo Truffle Bars from Pizzazzerie




Sweet Heart Cupcake Photo from Glorious Treats


Enjoy!