Nov 28, 2009

Chemo Cap and Scarf



I just finished a cap and scarf set for a dear lady at church who is battling cancer. This is the first of several sets I hope to make for her.
This set was made using Lion Brand Homespun, it is a very easy care yarn and comes in many colors. One skein made the cap and a 34” scarf. This scarf has a keyhole to allow the wearer to pull the opposite end through thus keeping it securely around the neck..
I hope Melinda will like it and I hope that this is one way I can bless her during this time.
Please keep her in your prayers.

Just a tidbit of info:  if you don't have a mannequin head on which to display your crocheted hat and scarf set, 2 rolls of toilet tissue work just fine!




Nov 27, 2009

Another Crochet Post, but hey, it's my current favorite hobby!




This is the 6th crocheted purse that I have made and only the 3rd that I have kept for myself for use as a purse.




 Purse 1 was a felted purse that ended up way too big, so I used it as a tote for a while and then donated it.

 Purse 2 was also a felted purse made along the same lines as #1, but I’m not happy with the straps. Since I like everything else about it I am considering removing the straps as soon as I figure out what I want to replace them with.

 Purse 3 is perfect except for the yarn I used. Too easily snagged, pilled, etc. for daily use. I’ll keep it though for a dressy winter purse.

 Purse 4 was an experiment using the type of yarn you find in commercially available crocheted purses. I gave it to my sister. The initial 4 all followed to some extent a pattern I found on the internet for free.



 Purse 5 was entirely my own creation; it is now my daughters.



 Purse 6 is my most recent and so far my favorite. I found the yarn in a box of mill ends at the A.C. Moore in Concord Mills Mall. I’m fairly sure that it is acrylic. I used a double strand throughout and single crocheted to give the purse a very sturdy body. It would not have needed any lining at all, but I like to have pockets.



I learn something with every purse I make. With purse 6 I learned that I can ruin 3 zippers very easily and that Velcro is NOT my closure of choice. (The zippers were reclaimed from worn out other things) I also learned that there is available a very nifty closure that is a hinge contraption that I plan on looking into.







Happy Thanksgiving

Psalm 100



A Psalm of thanksgiving.


Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: give thanks unto Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good; His mercy endureth for ever; and His faithfulness unto all generations.


I hope everyone  had a wonderful day of giving thanks. We certainly have plenty to be thankful for.

    • A roof over our heads.
    • Food to eat.
    • Clothes to wear
    • Books to read
    • A library close by with GREAT Staff!
    • Heat in the winter
    • Air conditioning in the summer
    • Freedom to worship
    • Freedom to homeschool
    • Freedom of speech
    • Parents that love me
    • America is free
    • Computers games for pc (son)
    • The internet and the ease it allows me to find and share info
    • Alarm clock
    • To have made it through 1 year of a job that is more demanding than I ever dreamed (husband)
    • That I was diagnosed with asthma before it killed me (after many years of symptoms)
    • Our new church family and their genuine love for us and each other
    • Christian friends that love me in spite of the problems I have
    • Honest friends that don't judge us for moving on and leaving 'their' church, these are true friends
    • God is in still in control in the World, in America and in our lives
    • Cars that run
    • That our children have both claimed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and are starting to bear fruit
    • That my husband loves me, encourages me and challenges me no matter what.
    • Twenty years of marriage and looking forward to many more.

There are so many more things to be thankful for. Too many things to list all at once. Let us not forget to give thanks in all things. Give thanks in the good times. That is easy. Give thanks in the bad times because it is ALL in His control.


He Gives AND Takes Away
my heart will CHOOSE to say
"Blessed be the name of the LORD"
Being Thankful does not always come easily. But every day is a new chance to make a new choice to be thankful.

The Apostle Paul put it this way in Philippians chapter 4, "... I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content..."


Nov 14, 2009

Another Finished Project



This time the project was a short story for a contest.




It had to be science fiction or some other type of imaginary story and both D and S entered. They were due to write a short story in several weeks for their writing class in school, so I just rearranged the schedule and had them do the short story to coincide with the contest.

S wrote a story about a boy struggling with his geography homework. As he gazes at the map trying to remember the answers he finds himself suddenly in Turkey….

D wrote a story about a monster that had been terrorizing a village in the Sahara and how it was defeated.

D’s story won second place and S’s story won third place.

CONGRATULATIONS KIDS!!



Tartan Museum

Entry to the Museum

Mary Queen of Scots








yarn used to weave the kilts



The Tartan Museum in Franklin is small, but I thought it was very thorough and interesting. We probably spent an hour there; the first time through I took photos of almost every exhibit. (I haven't posted them here.) Then I went back through and paid attention to the exhibits without the camera.


For those that might be interested, David is Scottish. Clan Gordon on his maternal side and Clan Buchanan on his paternal side.





Nov 11, 2009

Deep calls to deep at the roar of YOUR waterfalls; Psalm 42:7

Day One

Mingo Falls
Qualla Indian Reservation

After climbing 170 stairs.walking about a block over a rocky, muddy path, while hearing the thundering of the falls, we finally saw it.
It was so worth it. 

I don't think we have ever climbed to a waterfall and been disappointed.  Once again we were awestruck at the glory and the majesty displayed
by our glorious God. 

The whole earth is full of His glory. Isaiah 6:3

The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters:  The God of glory thundereth...
Psalm 29:3  ASV


We had our choice here, but twilight was fast approaching and after the climb earlier in the day to Mingo my ankle was NOT up to much so we opted for the closest waterfall.  Not as spectacular but still beautiful and the trail was wide and smooth.





David shooting Tom Branch Falls







Tom Branch Falls
Great Smoky Mountains National Park


Day Two


The Waterfalls of the Cullasaja River Gorge



Cullasaja Falls



View of US 64 from the car.   This is where we stopped to photograph Cullasaja.  There is barely enough room to pull the car off the road and exit the car safely.




Dry Falls


The last 2 photos are from behind the falls



Bridal Veil Falls



Nov 9, 2009

Twenty Years of Wedded Bliss

otherwise known as:
Our Second Honeymoon

We stayed at Mountainbrook Cottages, cottage #5.  Little has changed in twenty years.  It was a much needed step back in time.  No T.V., No PC, No telephone, not even any cell service. 







The cottages are equipped with a basic kitchen.  The only trouble I had was getting used to electric burners.
We brought some groceries from home and purchased a few things that I had forgotten in town at the super Wal-Mart.
I almost forgot to take any pictures of the cottage until we were loading the car to come home on Saturday. Hence the couch full of bags, boxes and luggage.
Our front porch greeter.
Maqelle & Poppy the long-hair Chihuahua who took great care of us upon arrival.  I wanted to bring Poppy home with me!