Autumn 2009 Show and Tell

Thank you friends for sharing your autumn decor today. It is certainly nice to "window shop" and save gasoline. You just invite me into your homes through Kelli's Show and Tell straight from Texas.Thank you Kelli for being such a wonderful hostess.

In this household the autumn decorations were brought out and the closet cleaned at the same time. :>)

Above is a beautiful piece of pottery made by my friend Maria with leaves and pumpkin along with metal candle tins.

Coffee table arrangement.



Arrangement from Julie's wedding with pumpkin



Mantel arrangement with 2 closeups below. "Give Thanks"




I like this big mum. It reminds me of the beautiful mums sold in high school for homecoming football games.

Basket arranged with various fall foliage in front of the fireplace


Little magnet on fireplace frame


A new gift: white Thanksgiving platter with leaf cookie cutters and ceramic pumpkin



This new little fella is dressed for the cool weather and viewing the fall deco. I couldn't resist sharing him. The doll I brought home from Mom's sewing room. The outfit that Mom made for my toddler son I have saved for a doll such as this. Of course, he is rooting for the Cincinnati Reds like my dad used to.



A couple other things I wanted to share. The embroidery piece I showed a few weeks ago with a new frame.


A little metal bird cage on the shelf above my dresser. Found it at an antique shop last Saturday. I will be keeping my eye out for something I have to add a decorative touch.


I praise God the Creator of all for the beauty of autumn.

Thank you for stopping by.

Friday Show and Tell Apron

Some of you may know, my mother passed away on May 2 of this year. She was 88 and did not recover from a massive stroke. The family stayed with her the last 2 1/2 weeks in a wonderful care center. We siblings bonded and told stories we had never shared with each other during that time.

With only an 8th grade education, through experience I believe my mother had a master's degree in sewing and baking and giving.

My 3 sisters and I recently decided to tackle the fabric assortment she had left behind. We had a wonderful time together. It took the 4 of us around 8 hrs of going through every piece and deciding which stack to put it in. There were also a few projects and china doll parts. Now mind you it was not that she did not finish things, she just loved fabric and still used her sewing machine. She made so many things through the years and her income helped the household budget. We learned to cook under her direction while she sewed. Her business was professional draperies but she could transform store bought clothes to make them fit. Or make it from scratch without a pattern. Her stitches were straight. I know, she was one of my 4-H leaders and she taught me how.

Today I am sharing something I brought home with me: an apron Mom made and wore. You may not be able to see the details of the handiwork on this but come see me in person and I will show it to you.





Below is a view from the back.



Here you see the shoulder pieces from the back.


And here is one of the ties that buttons to the back straps. Also see the detail of the strap: 2 pieces with tiny gathers where they meet together.


See what else is going on at Kelli's today. Thanks for stopping by.

Living Beyond Yourself

This is the title of a Beth Moore Bible Study. The women at church used it 3 or 4 years ago. The introductory foundation statement:

Christ in us not only guarantees life in Heaven but also Christ in us grants the astounding invitation to live beyond ourselves on earth.

Philippians 3:12-14 "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. I don't count myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

I have thought lately of the serenity prayer. "God help me to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

There are things I cannot change, prayers that have not been answered as yet. But I have to learn to set aside fretting about them. God has blessed me to make some progress there but I have a need to keep working at it. The need is to labor and find out what is the mission God has for today.



Dear God, This is a new day, fresh with no mistakes in it. Guide me to what is my mission for today. May I go in your strength to accomplish what I cannot do in mine.

It was truly a Labor Day

It was labor day for me at the office for real. I worked today to save one of my vacation days taken last week. Since almost everything piles up when one is gone on vacation, it is nice to dig into it when nobody is here. That gives one a head start before joining in with the crowd on Tuesday and being interrupted by other projects and questions. One more day of this would be good but it is not to be. :>) Now it is home with hubby who is sick and to see what wonderful things I can accomplish there.

Back From Beautiful Ohio and Stirring Message on Sunday

For any of you who don't know, "Beautiful Ohio" is actually a song. The Urbana High School Band played it for football games. I have just returned from a great visit there. We stayed at the Yocom Farm for 3 nights in the sooo quiet country. They just let us take over their kitchen and bake cookies for the grandkids and Rice family picnic on Saturday. It was great seeing so many of the family that day. We sang at the Brown Reservoir Sunday morning for worship with friends. Boy was it cold We sang with coats on. Then it was on to the Bostic Bed and Breakfast in Troy for 4 nights. At least it felt like we were at a bed and breakfast. Glenn and Dru warmed our hearts. We enjoyed great fellowship with them. It gave us a home base and opportunity to visit other family and friends while there. We had great fellowship with some old friends, the Newells with a brunch on Tuesday. I had two great escorts for supper at the Urbana airport one evening: Roger and Eric. That was sure a treat. Dru and Glenn even let me pull a few weeds at their house and we enjoyed their hot tub. We had a great supper with Mark and Cindy. While Rick visited with Dru, Sis and family, I was able to get with all my sisters and we a hard work day but wonderful time together as we sorted through all Mom's fabric and projects. It felt so good to "soak up" Mom for a while. While there we had a nice drop in visit from Uncle George, Aunt Eloise, Uncle Phillip and Aunt Donna.

We are excited for Eric, Seth and Ericca getting a new house. The girls and Clay worked a little on it and me and Rick got the grand tour.

God watched over us on the way home as we had a drawn out, scary car problem. It just took us a lot longer with a lot of prayer.

We had very good worship services at church today. Everyone was glad to see us back. Tonight another brother brought the message. He spoke of being ready for Christs' coming. Part of the message after the scripture reading was incidents that happened during a tsunami and how some took the warning signals and many did not. A saying brought by our pastor today is posted on my facebook: "Forecast: Cloudy with the SON coming." Are you ready?

Good messages in songs also. Thank you God!