Take Some Time...

There I am in the upstairs sewing room. Can't see me? Let's take a closer look...






Hmmm, still not there.













Oh, here I am looking out where I was just standing.

I tell you, it's getting so intense that I am not sure whether I am coming or going! Is it the same for you?














May we all find some extra time today to focus on how wonderful it was that the Lord was willing to come to us.

Perhaps some Scripture time with a good cup of tea and something yummy to munch on. You can find the recipe for these delicious Gingerbread Cupcakes at Sweet Tidings on Christy's December 1 post. You'll love'em. Oh, 90 grams = 1 stick of butter. Double oh, double the recipe!



Saturday Blessings...

There's A Certain Slant of Light

There's a certain slant of light,
On winter afternoons,
That oppresses, like the weight
Of cathedral tunes.

Heavenly hurt it gives us;
We can find no scar,
But internal difference
Where the meanings are.

None may teach it anything,
'Tis the seal, despair,-
An imperial affliction
Sent us of the air.

When it comes, the landscape listens,
Shadows hold their breath;
When it goes, 't is like the distance
On the look of death.
~ Emily Dickinson

That Emily! I was with her right up to the end of verse one, except for that "oppresses" bit. From then on, it was all downhill. One must be careful of these melancholy poets.

Anyway, I have been noticing that certain slant of light and especially in the mornings around here. There are light patches that never existed before. I've tried to capture them with my trusty camera, but I doubt that it'll look like much. Just believe me that when I first walk into that part of the house, sometimes I stand there simply amazed.





So many of you appreciated #3 in yesterday's list. I am happy to report that my beloved describes it as the best part of his day. Remember when I mentioned that I would be using Miss Sandy's gift as a way to save some of John's quips? Well here's one that you may appreciate.

Me: We don't have a book to read.

He: We've got a bookcase full.

Me: Did you select one already?

He: (Nods)

Me: What?

He: Advanced Engineering

Me: :D

Have a wonderful Friday!

Book Tag

Both Pat and Paula tagged me quite some time ago with a book tag.

The rules of this tag are these:

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share seven random and/or weird book facts about yourself.
3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. My degree (English) required a lot, nay, a ton of reading. I have never read as much as I read during those years, lots of classics, of course, but I still love to read. I seldom read the classics anymore, though.

2. I began reading Nancy Drew, Ruth Fielding, and Judy Bolton books at age eight. I particularly loved the Judy Bolton series because she got married. A romantic wedding it was under a double rainbow and all the bridesmaids wore a color of the rainbow. Sigh.











3. John and I read aloud to each other both morning and night. We are reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis in the evening. Mornings are Devotional reading and Scriptures.








4. My favorite authors are James Herriot and E.B. White. If you've ever read either of them, you'll know why!





5. There's a trail of unfinished books in the house. I can pick up a book in any room and start in where I left off without a hitch. Must be that I am too lazy to gather a book or to carry it about with me.

6. If I don't read them, I decorate with'em.








7. After years of teaching, I have lots and lots of children's books. My grands are going to thank me one day, I hope! They're already happy with their current stash.


Since it's such a busy time of year, I'm going to suggest that if you're intrigued by this book tag that you take up the challenge. Please let me know if you do because I'll want to read yours, too.

A Perfect Day

Don't you love a perfect day?! We aren't always aware of them for some reason, but yesterday was just such a day. It began, as it usually does, with coffee and quiet time. As John was reading morning devotions, I interrupted him to point out the Eastern spruce, which is just beyond our patio doors. It was sitting there twinkling in the morning sun. I've never noticed it before. For over an hour, we sat there and watched the tiny drops of water sparkle like twinklelights on a Christmas tree. As per usual, this is the best that I could do with the camera. Look close! Do you see them? There's one especially good one to the left.

After breakfast and after I'd visited a number of you, we decided to take my sister's Christmas decorations to her at her workplace. After leaving them off, a trip to Goodwill seemed in order. So many of you have such good luck there...well, at least Mary always does! Anyway, that's what you're seeing next — all my Goodwill treasures — a complete roll of wrapping paper, a candy dish, two boxes of ornaments, a book, and a little sign that says "and to all a goodnight." And all for less than ten dollars! I received three dollars in change.



I remember this well because I forked it over again late in the afternoon when we stopped at Tim Horton's for coffee and a blueberry fritter — make that two as we didn't share.

John took me out for lunch and I had something Mexican that was very good and didn't taste at all like turkey...yay! He had a salad. Honestly, I hate it when he's good on his diet. It just makes me look bad.

Then we shopped for all of his family and finished. Finished! Well, except for two aprons that I've got to get busy sewing.

Bought more fabric, bought more perfume, and avoided buying any magazines. I have all the inspiration I need right here in Blogland!



Edited to Add: About an hour after I had this post "in the can" using Post Options, I realized that something exciting was going on. I was receiving lots and lots of visitors! Most were arriving from The Inspired Room. Why, I wondered. Seems that Melissa has honored A Haven for Vee as her blog of the week. I am so blessed and so humbled because beautiful blogs abound here in Blogland. Talk about a perfect day, yesterday was it!

Soooo...welcome to all who may be visiting this blog for the first time. I do hope that you will comment so that I may visit you, too.

Just About Ready

(Imagine a vintage sewing machine with the name Vesta written upon it in gold scroll.)

My sewing room that is! I am so excited about it that I can't even settle enough to actually begin, but everything is there...the machine, the fabric, the tables, the accoutrements. I love that vintage machine above named "Vesta." It's my great-grandmother's name. My machine is a "Genie" and Suzanne named hers "Beverly"...what's your sewing machine named?

Here are some photos of my newly claimed space...










I believe I see evidence of elves in that last photo...all those tiny chairs. Well, I do wish that they'd finish up the packing!

Enjoy your Tuesday, Dear Ones...

How Long 'Til Christmas?

Yikes!

Well, obviously, Thanksgiving was late this year and that always throws me off. Even so, we did get the tree constructed and lights hung. John wanted to stop at this stage — you know, the "just toss them on there" stage and call it good. That's because of the five rolls of working lights packed away, only one was working when they were unpacked. What happens to those things?! We made a dash for Wal*Mart at 8:30 Saturday evening, which left us with not a lick of energy left for the job, hence the fright you see here.



Course you know, slave driver that I am, John finished up the job late Sunday afternoon. Then he helped with ornaments, too.



Sis had left a message about picking up things today if I had them ready. Hmmmmm... Anyway, that meant my scurrying about this morning to get as much out the door as possible. I won't miss the naked man, but I will certainly miss this picture of my niece.











Sis brought yummy cookies and we did all sit down to enjoy them over some piping hot and strong coffee.





Last evening, thanks to a wonderful post that Miss Sandy of Quill Cottage wrote, we participated in an Advent activity (?)...having never done it, I'm not sure what to call it other than wonderful. We had such a nice, quiet time reading the scriptures Miss Sandy provided and lighting the candle. We don't have much of an Advent wreath yet, but what we did have worked.



Looking forward to sharing this wonderful season with all of you — have a great first day of December!

Entering Advent

(Imagine a straw advent wreath with a red plaid ribbon.)

“Betwixt us and God there is no between.” ~Julian of Norwich

...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
~Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV)

Excellent Article on Entering Advent