a contented grandma speaks

I just dropped my married/mama girl off at the church where she will be standing with her friend as she gets married tomorrow.  I'm listening to the music coming from the guitar and voices that harmonize so beautifully in the other room... the aunties who wait patiently for our sleeping beauty to awaken.  Charlotte is napping and we are in charge.  Grin!

In a few more hours my boy and his girl will arrive with our son-in-law/brother-in-law from over the mountain.  And did I mention that Charlotte is sleeping in the other room?  Did you see my grin?

Blessings, Debbie

I'm texting you..

God's Not Dead!

Definitely go and see it.  Pack as many as you can in your friend's 13 passenger van and make an evening of it.  Then text the ones who didn't make it and give them the news!

Blessings, Debbie

this morning

Right now I am sipping steamy, fresh brew from my favorite pottery mug.  

I'm considering waking my sleepy-heads as they wandered in at 10:30 last night from an ice skating session in the 'big city'.  Maybe I'll let them sleep a little longer..  

I'm smiling because I just pushed send on an e-letter to my beautiful granny in Florida.

I'm considering the mess of crayons and crafty supplies being sorted for today's delivery to the thrift store realizing that these younger supplies have had little attention these past few years... sigh.

Realizing also that although the crayons haven't had much attention the skilled hands in this house do indeed still bless with artistic, crafty goodness... contented sigh.
I'm remembering the 30 second video of 'Charlotte over the Mountain' dancing that kept her grandpa and grandma entertained last night as we hit play.. again.. and again.. and again..
I'm anticipating the union of our only boy to his chosen girl in May and imagining the happy little videos to come..  :)

I'm recognizing the loving hand of the loving God who gently directs my 

thoughts and actions because I allow Him, and knowing without a doubt that my 

security is in Him alone.  He is my peace 

and I am ever 

so thankful for my portion!

Blessings, Debbie  

spring 'making'

First you purchase a second hand, richly stuffed feather pillow... you know, your standard, "good night, I'm going to bed now" bed pillow.  Next you make a new form from stash fabric that you've never loved.  Now rip out a side seam from the feather pillow (carefully because you are quite fond of the old ticking fabric and already have ideas for its re-purposing) and create the biggest mess you've EVER made by pulling handfuls of feathers from the old and stuffing them into the new.  It took just over half the feathers to firmly stuff it. Whip stitch the opening, take it outside and beat, beat, beat it because little fluffies are stuck all over the exterior (feathers inside pillow.. good, feathers outside pillow.. bad).  Come back in and sweep up the ridiculous mess from the floor and the chair that you were sitting in.

Making the pillow cover was quick and much more fun.  It's just a simple envelope style but I had some wonderful vintage fabric in 4 smaller pieces that were almost exactly the right size. I'm just saying that transforming a small pillow that you already have is so quick and easy... if you want to make the task more difficult, do what I did.  Although I must say that it does feel quite luxurious for the extra effort.

The weather is playing with me.. beautiful glimpses of spring between longish periods of Central Oregon March cold.  Audrey and I took a walk yesterday and were surprised by the buds and blooms that are the true harbingers of this long awaited season!  Lovely.

Blessings, Debbie  

greetings from Oregon

We had a few beautiful, shiny, mylar balloons left after giving Taren (our future daughter-in-law/Sister-in-law) her bridal shower a couple of weeks ago.  Can you believe that they were still dancing across the ceiling.  I thought, "Certainly balloons that have shown this much fortitude deserve a further purpose!"  So, Erin wrote simple but thoughtful messages on them and together we recorded their departure.  Now they are drifting over Oregon through the white-skiffed azure looking for you my friend. Please let me know if one of them makes it to you. I figure with three of them out there the odds are good! ;)

Blessings, Debbie

wisdom

Erin is the artist... wish I could claim this one.

Today the family was gathered around the television set.  Not the way I would normally recommend spending an afternoon but what we were watching was not the normal programming.  Have you seen The Truth Project?  No?  You are really missing something outstanding.

I spoke about my search for truth here.  It's a grand thing to know that you truly know.  You know?  :)

Blessings, Debbie

a stone dressed for the weather

 \

I crocheted a rock.  Well, I guess the more complimentary term would be a stone.  Yes, that's what they are calling them... crocheted stones.  Three years ago while combing the Oregon coast with friends I stuck a few (stones) in my pocket.  "What are we looking for?", asked the friends.  "Beach stones", said I. "What for?", they inquired.  I proceeded to explain that I had seen these beautiful crocheted stones and I intended to make some.  By the time we reached our cottage I was dragging my stooped body up the stairs with pockets heavily bulging with the abundance of generous non-crafters.  Of course, if they had been fellow creators they would have been hoarding for themselves.  All is fair in love and art.

Three years later and I decided it was time.  The fact that I still don't know how to crochet didn't slow me down ( that is if you don't call the 3 year hesitation a pause ;)  I Googled the tutorial by Margaret Oomen on The Purl Bee and proceeded to do it all wrong.  First, I couldn't find any crochet cotton so I grabbed some fingering weight boucle instead.  Then I found myself a crochet hook ( I have them to assist in my knitting faux pas). Then, I must have been confused about which stitch to go into each time around because my pattern doesn't look anything like Margaret's.  I couldn't care less.  Isn't it lovely?  Thank you.  ;)

Blessings, Debbie