Reflections

:: Family
 I include those pictures of Mr. Golfer repairing the fence really as a reference for me.  I must say that working round the house is not his forte.  He certainly has many wonderful attributes, but home repair is not one of them. He knows it as well! Therefore I post these here to remind both of us that it can indeed be done!  :))))  And he did it well!
Yesterday I joined him while he went to the driving range.  There is a wonderful porch swing that I love, so I took my knitting and the camera and enjoyed a rather mild Texas evening while he practised.  He leaves on his annual golf trip this week and I always miss him so much. Although I do look forward to the time to get projects done as well!

:: Catholic Faith
Just recently I had a long, but fruitful conversation with one of my daughters about education.  She is worried that there may not be the resources to put her children in Catholic School. We talked about all the pros and cons ( yes there are cons) plus the ins and outs.  I tried to focus on the idea of providing the catechesis as a family and how important it is for the children to see their parents participating in the church, not just going to  church.  Being a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, or even teaching a small group class models being a disciple.  Our Catholic schools as a whole do their best to instill the Catechism of the Church, but with so many lay teachers ( really almost all lay teachers) you are going to get weak links and opinions taught in the classroom.  If as a parent you are not aware of the Church's teachings yourself, then your child will end up with misinformation or no information.  Ask me how I know? :((

:: Scripture/ Prayer
I have returned to Divine Office prayers.  In fact. Mr. Golfer and I are listening to it at bedtime as we turn out the lights.  Such a peaceful way to ease into sleep.  I am longing for bible study to begin. I am missing the regular routine of reading and studying. This fall will be Moses and I really love Old Testament study.  Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books.

:: Knitting
You may notice in a picture above the beginning of a new blanket!  Yes, I finished the chevron blanket and made a decision on the pattern for the new one. I originally was going to do both the same, but as I ended one I just couldn't bring myself to begin again.  Look for a post on this Wednesday's Yarn Along.

:: Drawstrings
I have had many custom orders this past week.  Those are so enjoyable because it breaks the normal.  I am working out the details of an exercise bag.  Look for that in the shop soon!

:: Garden
The sun loving flowers just keep producing.  We ate our first green pepper and I snipped the first dill as well.  I chopped the dill very fine and sprinkled it over tilapia with sliced lemons.  It was excellent!  The pumpkin seeds I planted have grown into 6 plants.  I can tell I may need to prune at some point.  Also, did you know that you can take the bottom of an onion that has been sliced and plant it in the ground roots down to yield new onions?  I did not, but apparently they will produce  for ever!  Trying this!  We eat onions on so nay foods!

:: Home
I had planned on doing some painting in the house while Mr. Golfer was away.  I have broken out in another round of shingles, so that cancels those plans.  Normally it is something stressful that causes an outbreak, but nothing of that sort is happening.  Who knows!  Just very painful right now.

Prayer intentions? I'm a pretty powerful prayer warrior!
Wanda

Reflections

:: Family
I have been reading this book.  Having raised only daughters, it has been increasingly difficult for me to relate to son in laws. Even more difficult when the lives of my daughters are not what I dreamed they would be. I am gaining new perspective on how to continue to show direction in faith.  Words are so very important. They can change a relationship on a dime.  I'm learning to be more silent and to listen.  Hard for this extrovert.

:: Catholic Faith
I'm  continuing to read Leila's book.  I am enjoying listening to the podcast each week on Elizabeth's blog.  There is such wisdom to still be learned.  I have cried out to  God many times  in these last months.  I wanted this information when  I was raising my daughters. If I had been home all those years I could have imparted this?  We could have learned to live liturgically.  Why did the Catholic schools not teach this?  Shouldn't this have been central to the curriculum?  Hmmm.

:: Scripture/ Prayer
I'm struggling. Being home now should give me structure in my prayer time, but I am using my time in other ways. When I was driving to my daughter's, it was easy to listen to the rosary or DO in the car.  Now I am distracted in the mornings.  This morning I did find another source for the daily readings that I liked.  I'll post it next week if it continues to help me.

:: Knitting
The blanket was well received by my niece. I am 3/4 of the way through the chevron blanket.  Tomorrow's Yarn Along post will show the progress.  My plan was to be finished by July 1st so I could start the next one.  I think I will be close.

:: Drawstrings
Orders continue to be steady.  I  constructed the first camera backpack and a friend asked me to monogram a bag for her mother's ashes.  I was very touched by that request.

:: Garden
As you can see the garden is blooming!  So much to see each day.  That bromeliad was a find in the garden center of a large store chain.  I just loved the color.  Never having cared for one before I was surprised to find out you water them through the bloom and not in the soil.  Interesting!

:: Home
I have been cleaning, but not as much as I thought at this point.  I will be without a car tomorrow, so I think I will tackle a closet.  Oh which one?????!!!

Again, leave me intentions if you will.  Praying and cleaning go hand in hand. :)))

Reflections

:: Family
School is out and the summer is good!  So good to be home and doing little things already in the house.  I did see grandchildren today and on Thursdays I will be keeping Patrick and Rachel through the summer.    Really miss those two and am excited to take them to the zoo and park through these next weeks.
Caitlin is still employed, but probably not for long.  She longs to use this time to write and who wouldn't when your daily views are of the Montana mountains and your weekend views are of Yellowstone?

:: Catholic Faith
Happy Feast of Pentecost two days post!! The 50 days of Easter have come to an end and we are now in Ordinary Time. I always find that term a little misleading.  What is ordinary about the Church year?  The Church is always feasting, reflecting, memorializing, or celebrating something!!  Living in this cycle is a constant party!  Love it!!

:: Scripture/Prayer
I said last week that today would bring new reading and studying to my prayer life.  I slept in. :(  Tomorrow is another day.  I'm thinking God knew how much I needed to rest?

:: Knitting
Last week's Yarn Along was the reveal of the blanket!  It was met with great approval!  I have moved onto the next blanket for a young woman who will be my youngest daughter's sister in law in a year or so.  Check out Yarn Along on Wednesday for a peek.

:: Drawstrings
Amazing things are happening.  Aunt Leila has a giveaway going on  and new backpacks have been added to the shop.  Yes, backpacks!  They are so cute!

:: Garden
Don't be fooled into thinking that all of my garden is full of beauties like those above. There are so many weeds in places it is daunting to even think about working out there.  We had rain most of the weekend and what was clear dirt is now inches high in weeds.  Mr. Golfer has been gracious in helping me, but with this hurt back it is slow going.

:: Home
Oh how wonderful it is to be in this place!  I am a home body and could go long lengths of time never leaving my house.  I cleaned the bathrooms today, worked on the floors, discovered areas long neglected ( tops of doors) , worked in the studio, laundry.... I am so domestic and yet find my self having to be in other places most of the time. Is there meaning to that?

I have a special prayer intention that I am hoping you will join with me. Elizabeth DeHority is the woman I wrote about who was my inspiration for Drawstrings.  She is not doing well and if you read the link you will see what is going on.  She and I were having a FB messenger conversation on Saturday and here is part of it:

She never thinks about herself.  This woman who is so ill and only wants everyday she can have with her family is sending me yarn!!!  Will you pray for this beautiful soul and all those near and dear to her?  God has an angel here on earth is this woman.


Blessings!!

Reflections

:: Family
We had a birthday over the weekend.  Lilah Grace turned four.  Our oldest granddaughter. Time moves on doesn't it?  But, it is always a blessed time when I can gather as many as possible in my family.  Caitlin seems to be somewhat settled in Montana.  She does not like the job and wants to quit and take this opportunity to write.  That has always been her passion.  But of course the mother worries about health insurance.  You see, I may not have ever said this here, but Caitlin has Crohn's disease.  Twelve years now.  And even though she has gone from horribly ill at diagnosis to wonderfully well right now, I want her to have protection just in case.  So she has promised this mamma that she will find insurance.  We are always hens are we not?

:: Catholic Faith
I have begun in earnest using the Divine Office App on my phone and ipad.  Those four morning a week that I am in the car with the sun rising, I play it and pray.  If I can steel a few moments during the day I will play another.  I love that I know the Church is praying with me.  We are continuing to seek a permanent parish.  Why is it that we need to do that.?  We should be confident that what we hear each week from the ambo is true and in line with our faith.  But often it is not and that saddens me.  Not because it confuses me, but because those that are not scholars in the faith will be led astray.  Lord, help us!

:: Scripture/Prayer
My bible is turned to Acts. but I have not settled to read much this week.  Oh when Monday arrives all will change.

::Knitting
The blanket is finished!  Blocked, ends woven in and off the table.  You will see it tomorrow on Yarn Along. And just in time the new yarn arrived yesterday.  I have two more blankets to do in three months.  I went ahead and chose worsted yarn so the knitting would go faster.  It seemed like this last blanket took forever, but when I looked back at Ravelry, it only had the start date as April 4 and I ended May 31.  Maybe it was just my frustration that made it seem so long!  But these next two are both the same pattern, but with variation so I don't get bored.

:: Drawstrings
This little business is growing.  There has been a lot of visibility and talk. Orders are steady and I even have one customer in the UK who orders regularly.  Believe that! I am going to revamp my business cards this week.  The Etsy seller who prints my labels for me messaged me that she was almost out of the fabric.  Apparently those little labels are vintage fabric, so if you have a bag right now you have something really special.  I was able to find a new fabric that was close and mailed it all to her to keep. She said the match was very close. Yeah Me!

::Garden
Mr. Golfer spent this past weekend weeding for me.  This man hates gardening, so the effort was truly an act of love.  This back and leg keep me from bending and the sewing really has me in its grips as long as I am taking care of grandchildren.  But Monday you will find me out there early each morning!

:: Home
I sit in my rocker in the morning and after prayer my sight drifts around the rooms.  I have some painting planned soon.  Mr. Golfer will go on his annual golf trip in a few weeks and that is when I try to make big changes. He doesn't like to paint either :)))

These next three day are my last to keep grandchildren on a permanent basis.  I love these little souls, but school will be out for mother and father and my back will finally get some attention.  Bless all of you as you go about your day.  May God's peace be with you.

Wanda