Good Good Father

Good morning Folks ~ A couple of times during the night when I woke up, this song would start going through my head. It speaks to me, heart and soul. May you feel God's love as you listen yourselves. 

  Love, hugs & prayers ~ FlowerLady

Rain bringing another cold front

Hi Friends ~ Here it is another Friday and today here in s.e. FL it is a WET one. The wind is blowing too, and this weather ushers in another cold front.  Tomorrow night it is supposed to get down to 41 and feel like it's 35.  I'm planning to put my orchids in a sheltered place.  Everything else will just have to hack it. :-)  The green is rain and the yellow and orange are thunderstorm activity, which I'm hoping we won't get, but it looks like it is headed our way here.

At least we aren't getting all of that blue but the pink is worse as it means severe.  I pray that all of you in those areas will be safe.

Last evening my ride to and from the prayer group I go to told me we were getting the 'cold' weather this weekend. I told him my heater is in the attic, this was on the way.  When we got to my house afterwards he asked if I wanted him to get the heater out of the attic and I said yes and thanked him. He couldn't believe the heater. We found it curbside years and years ago and it works fantastically. It's a Radiant Heat panel. Quiet, no fumes, no noise, saves on heating bill. Makes it very comfortable in Plum Cottage that's for sure.

 Thursday I took some more Christmas money and went to JoAnn's for a paper cutter by Fiskar.  It had very good reviews and it was on sale too. I needed one and look forward to using it.  It's not sitting all the way flat as I've got it partly hanging off my sewing table.

While I was at JoAnn's I bought more felt and also some beads that were on sale. I love beads and creating with them. Some I've been gifted from friends years ago when I first started to bead, then I started buying. Have you ever walked into a bead store.  I can't afford the more expensive items, but I love looking and buy what I can.  Freshwater pearls are some of my favorite natural beads.  Favorite size bead to work with are the 11/0's and 15/0's too. Glass rather than plastic.

Here are the new beads I got yesterday.

Here are some of my stash of beads. This is looking out the window onto the wet patio area. I turned the boxes of beads on end to show them off better in the photos.
Click on photos for larger views.

Flowers out the window.

Back to beads.

 I'm almost done beading the pink lady cameo heart. I've been keeping track of my time with an online stopwatch and writing it down.

Here's the next one I've started. I can hardly wait to see how it turns out. I just wing it and go with the flow. The blue heart will be placed better on the light gray one.  It's not attached yet.

Well, there was some color, inside and a little from the outside on this wet, gray day.

I hope you all are staying warm and cozy inside here in the US. For the rest of you around the world I pray you all are doing well, wherever you are.

FlowerLady

“Art must be an expression of love or it is nothing.” ~Marc Chagall

“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” ~E.B. White

“Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. 

Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. 

Try to be better than yourself.” ~William Faulkner

“If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; 

if from the head, almost nothing.” ~Marc Chagall

A nice surprise....

Good morning Folks ~ It is 'cold' here in s.e. FL once again. My heater is in the attic.  I would have to have help in getting it down, and am hoping I won't have to do so. I didn't get it down last year and we had a few cold days in a row, I just put on socks and heavier clothing. :-)

Yesterday I made a crockpot full of homemade chili.  I cooked up a bag of dried pinto beans first, then browned Italian sausage and some ground beef, then added a large can of diced tomatoes, some Merlot, a bit of water, onion, garlic and onion powder, paprika, cayenne, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, cumin and maybe one or two others. Didn't have chili powder. I put it on high and cooked it for about 4 hours and it smelled good in here and I enjoyed it with a couple of glasses of Merlot for supper. :-) I think tonight I'll cook up some brown rice to serve the chili on and to make the chili last longer.

This morning I was pleasantly surprised and couldn't quit smiling from an email notification from Etsy of another sale. This was a good one, from a repeat customer. Needless to say, I am very thankful and inspired to keep creating.

Click on photos for a larger view.

I will close this post with a couple of pics of Miss Tork on my new quilt. :-)

Her coloring is wonderful with this quilt. My sweet comforting kitty.

That's it for now. I'm hungry so it's time for some breakfast.  Have a great day & don't forget to count your blessings.

FlowerLady

Accomplishment

Hi Folks ~ Hope you all are keeping warm in the US.  Even down here in s.e. FL it is 'cold' for us.  It was 51 earlier and felt like it was 43.  BRRRR.

Last Thursday after dropping Miss Rosie off at the pet adoption center, I did some shopping using Christmas gift cards and Christmas $. I was north of home by about 30 minutes and worked my way back home stopping and shopping. I was gone from home 6 hours. I could hardly believe it.

One thing I got was a new printer as my old one, (both Epsons) was having lines in my printing, no good for note cards. I don't know how long I've had it, but quite awhile, plus it sat for awhile without being used when DH was ill and for some time after. So, I did some Googling and came up with the Epson XP-424, small in one. It's wireless, is a printer, scanner and copier, plus it takes 4 individual cartridges of ink. I love that as you only have to buy the ink that you are low on, other printer had that as well. This printer was just under $50 at Walmart. The first one I had was an Epson Artisan 50 and we spent much more for it.

This morning I decided to take it out of the box and try setting it up myself. I texted my BIL Todd to tell him what I was doing, he called a little while later and gave me a few hints as to what I would need as to passwords, etc. to set it up.  At first I 'failed', I used the home network password, when what they wanted was the key password from the router. Then I had 'success'.  Yay, me! DH always did that stuff, so I am really happy I was able to do this. I can hear him saying "At a girl". :-)

I printed up some note cards and am really pleased with the results. One of my blogging friends from way back, Val, suggested selling note cards in my Etsy shop. It is something DH and I talked about many, many years ago, selling note cards online. Now I have a shop to do so.  Thank you Val for the encouragement.  I also wanted to print some out because I'm part of a card ministry at my church, and will give some to the other lady involved.

I haven't scanned or copied anything yet, but will.  I want to try scanning real life flowers, as I've seen others do. Something new to learn and have fun with.

Here's my printer. Click on photos for larger view.

Pics taken this morning. A simple, easy orchid that grows like a weed, and an unknown rose that smells heavenly.

That's if for now, from Plum Cottage. 

Enjoy each new day. 

FlowerLady

What a week and a half!

Hello Folks ~ What a week and a half and I'm glad it's over. First of all I  had bought a wire cage to place Miss Rosie in, in the living room, as she was now in heat and I didn't want her outside, not even in the screened porch. Male cats were hanging around.  Miss Tork hissed at Rosie a couple of times, but for the most part stayed away from the cage. Our routine was not the same, but she did well considering another feline was in her space. :-)

I had emailed the Peggy Adam's pet shelter the week before and was put on a waiting list. I emailed back asking how long, got an email last Tues. saying about a month.  Made myself resigned to that. The next evening I got another email saying they could take Miss Rosie, so I made an appt. for the next morning. I took some selfies for a momento. I loved this little girl, and have prayed that she'll find a good home with people who will love & cherish her.

I had to have Miss Rosie at the shelter around 8. More traumatic for her than me, as she was in the cage for a longish van ride.  Bless her heart. Then taken into a place where she could hear cats and dogs.  She did well, I told her it was going to be ok and to be a loving kitty to someone, and I shed a few tears. As I left I had a feeling of relief, mixed with a little sadness. I had decided to use some Christmas gift cards on the way home since I was at the north end of town.  Went to Joann's and Walmart, then to Publix. I didn't get home til nearly 2 p.m. Exhausted!  

Miss Tork and I have more or less gotten back to normal.  Although I'll have to say she's been even more lovey-dovey than usual.

Here is Miss Tork on a lovely quilt made by my dear widow friend Maggie. It came Saturday. A beautiful gift after an emotional week. I love the colors and the whole thing has a Jacobean feel with the prints.  I'll take a better photo later.

Friday afternoon I was sitting here in my little space, when all of a sudden my smart phone started vibrating and screaming, scaring me half to death and making my heart pound like crazy.  I realized it must be some kind of warning and it was, a 'tornado' warning, and told to take shelter. Oh my gosh, I sort of freaked. Turned off the a.c., shut down my computer, closed blinds and curtains, prayed, and got out my Bible.  I was led to these two verses. ~ Psa 32:7  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. ~ Psa 31:24  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. 

My heart calmed somewhat, but I was still nervous. The winds were fierce with pounding rain, lasted about an hour. What a relief to have the storm over. 

Saturday was a mostly lovely day with lots of wind still. I took the following pictures.

I had another time of depression sweep over me,  Saturday late morning, and I cried as I wrote in my journal and told Jesus how I was feeling. I told him how I just want to hibernate and sleep so that I won't have to miss my DH. (Having to do things alone, and only for myself instead of him and us, really gets me down at times. It's just not the same. Grieving depletes and there's a lack of motivation.) Well, soon after that I felt this calmness and burst of energy and got up off my seat and started doing things. I never even felt like a nap and just kept going. I was oh so thankful for that change of attitude. God heard me. Then that afternoon the lovely quilt from Maggie came. I knew a pkg. was coming, but not what it contained.  What a delightful surprise.

The next morning, Sunday, very early, I was sitting here again, when the same thing happened.  I line of nasty weather was heading our way again, with a tornado watch.  The weather wasn't as bad and didn't last as long, but still got my heart pumping faster. The day turned out to be rather nice, although still windy. A cold front was headed our way. Right now at 9:34 EST it is 56 degrees and feels like it is 53. Later in the day I read that two people were killed in Sarasota because of a tornado there. It's not something we hear of here in Florida much. My heart goes out to family and friends of these two.

I've been reading and just finished a Christian fiction book by Lori Wick, 'The Princess'.  Yesterday I read the following: "Worry is a sin. ~ God is able to bear all that you are fretting about.  He has made a plan.  He has made a provision.  There are no shoulders larger or more capable than His.  Give that worry, whatever it is, to God." 

Then this morning I read this: " I love knowing God loves me & will never leave me.  God doesn't make life perfect for those who trust in Him, but He does promise to always be with us." 

I am ever learning and growing in my walk with Jesus, more so  now in this widowhood part of my journey.

Today is a new day, may I rejoice and be glad in it. 

Thank you all again for your love, prayers, words of encouragement. They and you mean a lot, and help me tremendously.

Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

Thank you!

Good morning Friends ~ I hope you are all enjoying the start of this new year.

 
I want to thank all of you for your prayers, encouragement, virtual hugs, love and support.  I am feeling much better. One thing about becoming a widow is having more compassion on others when they are down. So many are hurting in this world for a myriad of reasons. We all need love, prayers, support and encouragement.

 
It is 'chilly' here this morning, after several days of awful heat and humidity. At 7:06 a.m. EST, it is 56 degrees and feels like it is 52. Brrr!  But oh so NICE.  I have some errands to run today and it will be fun to do them in this kind of weather.

 

Here are a few pics of some blooms from my January gardens.

That's it from Plum Cottage.

Have a really nice week ~ FlowerLady

 

Hello Friends ~ It's been gray for a couple of days, some rain, chilly and windy. The cooler temps are really nice. I hope you all are enjoying the start of the new year.
I came across the you-tube-video below a little while ago. A real treat to watch. May it brighten your day. It spread a little cheer into mine.
Enjoy.
Carol Klein's Plant Odysseys - 1. Roses     Keep me in your prayers as I've been somewhat depressed since the new year began. I am missing my dear husband so much.

I found out yesterday that my Mom fell and fractured bones in her left foot. She's in rehab, but my dear sis and her husband left their home further north yesterday and are trying to get Mom out of the rehab and then will be taking care of her in her own home. (text just from my sis, 5:33 p.m EST, Mom has to stay in rehab as she has to stay off that foot. They are giving her lots of therapy.)

My dear sis in law Sue, has volunteered to take me out to see my Mom again, we went in August, and it was a good reunion with Mom. We will probably go on Sunday when the traffic is lighter. My Mom has been having problems with her legs holding her up and does not want to use a walker, and is having a bit of dementia too. Her husband is 96 and has been doing the best he can, but he's to the stage where he can't lift her anymore. Keep my Mom, her husband and my sister and her husband in your prayers too, that all will go smoothly and that they will be strengthened at this time with God's love & peace.

Miss Rosie has come into heat, as of yesterday morning with that yowling they do, and I've come to the painful decision to put Miss Rosie up for adoption at a nice place. I plan to take her tomorrow morning. After making the decision yesterday, I went out this morning to trim the front hedge, and what do I find but a dead kitten, probably her sibling, as it was about the same size, except not as big or as loved on like Miss Rosie has been for the past 4 months. I really don't want the responsibility of another cat, as I already have 4. It will be a relief to not have to worry about her being outside, even getting her fixed, or trying to make her fit into my little family here. She's in a nice wire cage right now that I bought at Walmart yesterday, here in the living room, and Miss Tork occasionally comes close to the cage and hisses. :-) I've been playing cat lullaby music that relaxes all three of us.

Miss Tork and I have a good thing going on here in this little cottage. She is not a normal cat in that she does not jump up on counters, etc. She just jumps onto the sofa, bed and chairs to sleep. She scratches on an old crate that I have some books in, does not scratch any furniture. I've been blessed with her calm spirit and am very thankful for that.

So that is what is going on here, heavy heart and ever ready tears, a perpetual lump in my throat. This will pass, but it is what it is at the moment.

God is bottling all of my tears, and one day they will all be wiped away, no more pain or sorrow, only everlasting joy & peace. He is my strength when I am weak, He is my comfort when I feel down. Sometimes it all seems too much, but He is always with me, working all things out.

Here is the latest beaded project I am working on. I started it 26 Dec. It is a joy to work on. It has seed beads, bugle beads, mahogany obsidian star beads, fresh water pearls, a lucite cameo, a mother-of-pearl button, 2 charms and antique rhinestones. Click on photos for a larger view.

Love, hugs & prayers and thankfulness for all of you ~ FlowerLady