Thursday, February 6, 2014

A new day

 

Good morning Folks ~ Here it is Thursday already. A friend left a comment saying she keeps checking my blog to see if there are any new posts.  I checked and it’s been a week since my last one. Sorry about that.

Sunday I worked on moving more potted plants to the caravan heart patio area.  Monday and Tuesday I puttered indoors doing some rearranging of storage units for crafts, etc. Yesterday I did errands. Each day I usually take a nap too, then have a nice cup of herbal (this week it’s been a blend of peppermint and nettle) tea sweetened with Florida honey.  At Christmas time I bought a jar of wildflower honey, my friends bought me a jar of Gallberry honey last week. The gentleman comes around to the area where I work with jars of honey and other goodies too.  (My boss bought me a larger jar my first Christmas without my hear husband.) Honey is very good for us and so are the herbs.

I’ve been working a little on the beaded and embroidered heart.  It takes time. I’ve been crocheting on a couple of blankets. Ideas are whirling in my head too.  I’ve got to get things back in my little Etsy shop.

Yesterday we had a thunderstorm roll in with lots of rain, which we needed.  More rain expected today and tomorrow.  Great for the gardens.

Yesterday I stopped at the Good Will thrift store since it is Sr. Citizen’s day, 25% off.  I found some tops, a skirt to wear and one that I will use in needlework creations, and some books.

This skirt is very tiny, seems more like slip, and maybe it was, but it was hanging with the skirts.  I could hardly believe it when I saw it. It is beautiful and so intricate.

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I don’t know how they made the netting part, but it is all joined together and just wonderful.  What a lot of time went into this.  It was made in China, and they do fine needlework there. I’ve never seen anything like this.

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Here are my latest shirts. Smile The middle one has beads sewn on the top part of the shirt. I wear colorful shirts then look through my older clip-on or screw-on earrings for something to go with the color scheme.  DH also called me ‘earring lady’.

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I decided to look through the books while I was there, not fiction, I can get those at the library and return them.  Ones on gardening, or crafts, or the odd cookbook, or poetry, or spiritual writings. What I found yesterday were spiritual and seemed just meant for me.  They were at the end of a row of books at the back of the section. I picked up the first one, checked it out and then the next and the next, until I had 8 of them, if they were ever read, they do not look it.  Normally they are 79 cents each for paper backes, I got them for 59 cents because I am a sr.

Last night before sleep, I started reading “Devotion Explosion – Getting REAL with God.” by Christy Bower. We have believed for years that we can talk to God at any time, anywhere. That’s what this book is about.  We don’t have to have a certain time to get close to God, we can do so all day long through whatever we are doing or whatever we are going through.

I look forward to reading all of these and am happy to have found them.  I think they were gifts to me from God, sitting all together just waiting for me to find them. I don’t always do errands on Wed. and I don’t always go to the GW thrift store either.

02-05-books

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Here are some blooms from my gardens yesterday. More gifts from the Giver of All Gifts.

I had to take this photo because of the lone purple bloom on this shrub.  Isn’t that neat?

Azaleas

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Blue Sage ~ one of my favorites.

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Reed orchids with blue clock vine in the background.

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This is ‘Cocktail’, a bush I’ve had for many, many years, growing in a huge terra cotta pot.

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This is my gifted rose “Rose de Rescht”. It’s really grown since I got it as a rooted band/cutting from Heirloom Roses, a gift from a blogging friend and follower, Deb and her husband . This little bush is about 12 inches tall now and has three buds on it.  This was the only one showing color.  I can hardly wait to get a scent of this wonderful rose.  Thank you again Deb and hubby.

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I will close with a lovely piece I got in my email box the other morning from ‘Desert Streams’

May it bless your heart as it has mine. (This can be for a son of God’s too, just replace daughter with the word son.)

***********

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Nor deem these days--these waiting days--as ill!

The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,

Hath not forgotten thy great need today!

And, if He waits, 'tis sure He waits to prove

To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Thou longest much to know thy dear Lord's will!

While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way

Corrodingly within, because of His delay

Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest

That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Nor move one step, not even one, until

His way hath opened. Then, ah then, how sweet!

How glad thy heart, and then how swift thy feet

Thy inner being then, ah then, how strong!

And waiting days not counted then too long.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?

'Tis hard! ah yes! But choicest things must cost!

For lack of losing all how much is lost!

'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then--He giveth grace

To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

J. D. Smith

******

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

22 comments:

gld said...

Glad to see you back.

The shirts are gorgeous. The one time I went to a Goodwill I was very disappointed. I need to see if we have others in town.

Don't you love it when plants do that! I always wonder if you could take a cutting of just that one bloom or save seeds from it, if it would come true to that single color.

Glad you are getting the rain; we are getting more snow!

Sandra said...

That is one gorgeous skirt. So beautiful, can't wait to see what you do with it.

I miss our Goodwill, the closest one to us is now 45 minutes away, I sure miss having it just down the street.

Love your plants, I've been missing Arizona and my plants, at this time of the year I was already growing stuff, but with the snow and cold here nothing is happening yet. Bummer.

Hope you have a fantastic Thursday :)
Hugs,
Sandra
xoxo

Ruth Hiebert said...

Glad to hear that your days are filled with a variety of things to do. The books look interesting and should be uplifting.

Skeeter said...

The skirt is gorgeous and cannot believe someone would give it up to a thrift shop. But their loss is your gain...

Your blooms are such beauty to me on this yet another cool day here in GA. But soon, we too shall be seeing Azaleas in bloom...

Betty said...

You have been very busy. That is a pretty skirt and I like the shirts you bought.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow---great flowers/great reads/great new clothes---sounds like life is good for you!!!! God Bless.

That lace shirt is probably supposed to be a slip --but with a long slip under it (even maybe in another color)--it would make a great skirt.. Beautiful.

Hugs,
Betsy

Maryann said...

I find most of my clothes at the thrift stores, love them. I never knew our thrift stores had senior discount days until a clerk asked me if I qualified for the discount...apparently I did!
You found some terrific stuff. Nice thing about thrift stores is you never know what you mind find, it's like a treasure hunt.

Terra said...

You found some wonderful books and the price is definitely right. Your flowers are pretty as always and that skirt from China is amazing.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

That skirt is pretty. I like your colorful shirts too. You find the best stuff.

Mrs. E said...

That skirt is awesome--just beautiful!

Nancy J said...

Flowers in glorious shades, a skirt too fine and delicate to imagine the hours in its creation, and the words, I will treasure those, and pass on to a very dear friend, she will value them even more. And the thrift store, or op-shop as it is called down here, a real treasure trove not to be passed by, I'm so glad you called in that very day. Fond greetings, Jean.

BernieH said...

Wow, that lacy slip/skirt is just beautiful. What a gorgeous find. You always found a collection of interesting books to read. Just great to enjoy while sipping on your herbal tea with honey. Lovely blooms too. That Reed Orchid caught my eye today.

Darcie said...

It's always good to be noticed, and missed when you haven't blogged for a spell. The lace skirt is absolutely beautiful!

Gary said...

I did wonder when would next get to enjoy one of your posts Lorraine. LIfe takes over sometimes though doesn't it? I particularly like the 'Cocktail' plant, very striking! Have a lovely weekend.

Rebecca said...

Oh, my! That skirt is AMAZING!
And the books....I treasure and frequently re-read my Oswald Chambers ones....And I also enjoy Ray Stedman's writings.

I can't wait for spring/summer. Your flowers brighten my day. It is BITTER cold up here today....

Karen said...

Hello Rainey, I love your Goodwill finds, the skirt is absolutely amazing, I can't imagine the hours and hours of work involved. I always look for books at Goodwill, too, and have found some real gems over the years for a pittance of their original cost. I'm glad to hear you are doing well, I was getting worried, too.

I've started work on an allamanda stained glass lamp, and needed photos of allamandas to use for inspiration, so I searched the web for photos and guess where I was led to? Your blog! I was so happy to see your glorious pictures of the plant and doubly happy because the flower does bloom in dusky pink. All the lamps I've seen were done in yellow, which is nice, but I was hoping pink was an option. I am basing my lamp interpretation off of your lovely photos. I will always think of this shade as 'Rainey's Flowers'.

organicgardendreams said...

Dear Lorraine, I am happy for you that you found all these wonderful things at the Good Will thrift store. The crochet white tiny skirt, oh my gosh, I have never seen anything like this. It seems so precious! I wonder how it was ending up in the thrift store. It hard to believe for me that it is handmade. It must take an incredible amount of time to make it!
As always I love seeing photos of your garden. 'Rose de Rescht' is really looking good. I am sure, that you will enjoy the blooms very much. The fragrance is just out of this world. The 'Blue Sage' blooms are also very pretty. Is this a real sage? Warm wishes,
Christina

Sandy said...

Your beautiful flowers always make me smile. So wonderful!
The skirt is really gorgeous and what a find. And I love anything written by Oswald Chambers.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

M.K. said...

Hello! I often miss several days blogging also. Life intervenes! That skirt you found is stunning. I can't wait to see what you'll do with it -- I hate to think of it being cut apart, but you can hardly keep it intact either.
Thank you always for your flower pics. Azaleas! I can't wait until our azaleas begin to bloom, probably in March, or maybe late Feb. if it's very warm. Which it doesn't seem to be right now - ha!
Blessings :)

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

The skirt is beautiful.
One of my favorite books
"Streams In The Desert"
underlined, tear stained and binding coming apart.
Love this book.
Take care...

Joy Junktion said...

Isn't it fun to check out the thrift shops? That skirt you found is just lovely! And, of course, I always enjoy the beauty you share from your garden/yard! Enjoy your week!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Lorraine, I adore all your thrifty finds, especially the skirt and the books. Chambers is such a treasure! I'm in a season of waiting when I want to be moving; God continually reminds me, wait is a verb.