strawberry preserves...

What's that old saying...When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  I've definitely been having a lemon kinda day.  But instead of lemonade...

I made strawberry preserves...

Aren't these strawberries the cutest?

I found the pattern in Tone Finnager's Sew Pretty Homestyle book...

They were sew easy and sew fun to make.  I'm going to pick up some strawberry essential oil next time I'm out and give these as little package ornaments for Christmas...

I know, I know I said Christmas...

Now that schools back in session you know the holidays are right around the corner.  Have you started thinking about them yet?

You better start soon...

Ho, ho, ho!

Patty

close calls and life's reminders..

I'm kind of a mixed bag of emotions this Saturday afternoon...
I'm reflecting on the joy of celebration and the worry of what might have been.

My youngest daughter graduated with her AS in Medical Assistanting last night...A natural scholar she is not.  She scooted her way through each grade by the hair of her chinny, chin, chin.  Her natural talents lie elsewhere. 

 She is wonderful with sick people, the underdog and just about anybody who doesn't seem to fit in.  She never wanted to be one of the crowd...even made me put three ponytails in her hair (instead of the standard one or two) in first grade...

My parents made the hour drive in to be apart of the celebration...On their way home, last night, they had a very close call on the freeway...I'm convinced God's angels kept them from a potentially bad accident...They were badly shaken up and their car sustained some damage but thankfully, they were not hurt.  

 

I share this in praise of God, (the alternative to them being safe is beyond what I can wrap my mind around right now) and as a not so gentle reminder that this life is short. 

The outcome could easily have been very different...

It could have been anyone of us...

 

"Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year.  We will do business there and make a profit."   How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?  Your life is like the morning fog.  It's here a little while, then it's gone.  What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."  Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.  Remember it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."  James 4:13-17

Celebrate today for the gift it is...Do some good for someone in need...Thank God for the chance to live another day!

Thankfully blessed,

Patty


Spiritual Sundays

the joy of ice cream...

Thanks for all the suggestions on books to read...I will be getting to you all individually to ask for one author and a favorite book so that I can start a list for my next library visit.  It's the thrill of the hunt without the price tag! lol

The summer heat has finally found us here in Southern California. We’ve had a week of near triple digit temperatures (I know some of you have been that way most of the summer but somehow we've escape it) and I’ve been trying to find ways to keep my grandson cooled down.

His favorite way is filling up his little swimming pool with water…not the swimming part but the filling part. He loves to have control of the garden hose! The only way I can convince him (okay, bribe him) to go inside is with the promise of a bowl of ice cream.

Reality check…while that bowl looks mighty inviting it just doesn’t convey the pure joy of really enjoying an

 ooey…gooey…tongue smacking, spoon licking bowl of ice cream…

I thought I’d let Andrew show you how it’s done, lest you've forgotten…

Now that’s pure enjoyment!

When was the last time you enjoyed a guilt-free bowl of decadent Rocky-Road  ice cream?

I think I’ll go dip me a bowl,

Patty

the library...

A few more craftroom pictures to share...

Once upon a time I was an avid reader…I could actually become so obsessed with finishing a book that my kids would roll their eyes when I brought a new one home.

I used to love to go to the library…

The endless possibilities that all those books provided…

I ventured into our city library a couple of weeks ago looking for some history books on CD for my husband to listen to while driving.

I was a little afraid that with the onslaught of things available online that the library had become somewhat of a dinosaur institution…

I’m pleased to say that is not the case in my city at least. It took me a while to feel my way around (and no, I didn’t expect index card files…I’m not that archaic, although I do remember using them) but once I became acclimated…woo…heee…it was like going home again.

Just stepping in there brought back such a pleasant wave of memories. I began to wonder why I stopped going…why I stopped reading for pure pleasure?

I pulled a couple of books off the shelf to bring home (you know they don’t stamp the due date in them anymore) so I’m off and running.

Now I need to form a new list of favorite authors…Any suggestions?

Giddy about catching up,

Patty

I'm linked up to It's a Very Cherry World for Rednesday...

craftroom and squares...

I thought I’d show you pictures of my rearranged craft room as we chat this week. I know it still might look a little chaotic to some of you but it’s the environment I create best in.

After church yesterday I headed out to my folks for a quick visit and then a planned movie excursion for my nieces birthday.

My niece had an emergency come up so the movie date was postponed and it turned into a nice leisurely visit with my mom and dad. I took my fabric with me so mom and I spent some time cutting fabric squares and talking…

just the two of us…

a simply wonderful, time together.

I had a chance to sit and watch a little TV with my dad and to hear his childhood memories all over again. We even braved the triple digit temperatures and they treated me to a nice lunch at Mimi’s Café.

It was one of those afternoons that I knew even in the moment, I would always cherish.

A time destined to be a beautiful memory…

It was nothing special…yet it was everything.

I don’t ever want to take for granted time spent with the people I love.

Have a wonderful, memory making week,

Patty