Step 1 - I'm on my way!

Okay, in my last blog I posted that I wanted to begin sharing some of the wonderful gifts the Lord has given me.  One of those is that I am mechanically inclined and I particularly understand sewing machines.  One of the ladies in my Sewing Circle at church called me the "sewing machine whisperer."  LOL  Anyway, I do troubleshoot sewing machines for my church family.  I also scrounge thrift shops for older, mechanical, all metal sewing machines for use by the Sewing Circle.  Most of the time these machines have to be tuned up.  That's where my gift comes in!  And I am going to share with you.  First, you must relax and not be afraid of your sewing machine.  I know this sounds weird, but many times I find that people are afraid to "tinker" with their machine - they are intimidated by it and afraid the might break it. 

So, step one is RELAX!  It is highly unlikely that you will do something to permanently damage your machine, unless of course you take a hammer to it in your frustration.  Each of you knows your limitations and I feel confident that you won't exceed them when troubleshooting your machine.

Step two is read your owner's manual!  This sounds like a no-brainer, but really, most people just skim over the manual.  If you bought a vintage machine and don't have a manual, feel free to contact me - I can most likely lead you to one or maybe even provide you a pdf version. 

Step three - take care of your machine!  I can't stress this enough.  Taking care of your machine involves cleaning and lubricating.  Even if you have a newer, electronic machine, it still needs to be cleaned and may need the occasional DROP of oil in certain areas.  Check your manual.  The older machines need to be oiled wherever metal touches metal.  Again, check your manual.  And please, please, please use good quality sewing machine oil, not 3-in-1 oil or somesuch.  Sewing machine oil can be found at most fabric stores in the notions section.  After finishing a project, clean in and around your feed dogs and bobbin area - it is amazing how quickly lint collects in there! 

Stay tuned for further hints!

Hope for the Future

I just read a blog post that gave me hope for our country.  I hope you will visit her blog HERE- she has some good things to say.  She is a young woman who has her priorities straight and is able to articulate her opinions in a fun and interesting way.  I love it! 

This has encouraged me to get back to posting more often and to add some basic skills tutorials when I can.  God has given me some talents that I need to share as far as a simpler lifestyle - the "make do, make over, or do without" skills that I learned from my grandparents.  Now I just need to find the time!  But I will.  I will do this. 

Happy Mother's Day!

This is a photo of my Grandma, my Mom and me (I'm the one with no hair!).  The Lord called my Mom home when I was 19 years old - actually, barely 19 - she left us 5 days after my 19th birthday, and 3 days before Christmas.  It took me a long time to be able to get through the holidays without feeling bereft.  However, through it all, the Lord has guided my life.  My Grandma and my Mom were the ones who made sure I had a good Christian foundation to build on.  Did I ever stray?  Of course!  I am a human being, after all!  But the Bible tells us "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

Thank you, Mom and Grandma, for making sure I learned about Jesus' wonderful gift of salvation and for training me up in the way I should go. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day.  Those of you who still have your mothers with you, cherish them!  Make it a point to spend some special time with your Mom. 

Have a blessed day!

In Memory of All Veterans

While we DO love the extra day off, the barbecues, picnics and other gatherings with family and friends, it is important to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I and has come to be a time to honor and remember those who have served and currently serve in the U.S. military, as well as those who died for our freedom.

It is the

VETERAN,

not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is

the VETERAN,

not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is

the VETERAN,

not the poet,

who has given us freedom of speech.

It is

the VETERAN,

not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is

the VETERAN,

not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is

the VETERAN,

not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the

VETERAN who

salutes the Flag,

It is

the

VETERAN

who serves

under the Flag,

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

Enjoy your long weekend, everyone, and take time to thank a soldier or remember a Veteran.

In the Garden Again!

This morning while I was checking the progress of things in the garden (ever on the lookout for tomato hornworms…..I truly despise those nasty things), I heard some rustling in the Hummingbird bush. Ah, I see that one of the kitten seeds has grown and is now invading the rest of the garden!

This is the little guy we have name Taz – he and his two siblings, Sam and Dot, are absolutely fearless. They are also just a teensy bit hard on some of my plants, but oh well, they are so darn cute that I haven’t the heart to admonish them! The “bush” he is invading is actually very tall, and he is about six feet up in this shot!

Now you see why I grow everything in raised beds or else is a very well fenced off area. Although I must admit it has been an uphill battle with the stray and feral cats we care for, not to mention my two dogs – but I have managed to cultivate my little part of the world and everything is coming along quite nicely.

I see the serrano peppers are ready to pick again!  YUM!

And I should have quite a few cherry tomatoes for the salad.....

But I don't think I'll be using the old pot belly stove for any cooking this weekend - good thing I have a komado and a BBQ grill!  Sheesh!  These cats are taking over!  This is Miss Kitty - the matriarch of the strays cats.  She loves to explore and will climb into anything with an open door!

Thank you for walking through my garden with me today!

Thursday Morning in the Garden

I love gardening - I grow herbs, vegetables, flowers........and some odd things...... 

I truly do not recall planting kitten seeds - but as they say, the proof is in the pudding!  And then there is the very strange tree.........

This tree blooms every year before the leaves sprout - isn't this an unusual blossom?  The tree is full of them and they only last one day before they drop off.  Does anyone know what the name of this tree is? 

I do grow the usual varieties of veggies, herbs, etc. but I wanted to share a couple of the more unusual things that grow in my garden. 

Enjoy your day! 

National Day of Prayer

Today is our 59th observance of the National Day of Prayer.  While the law formalizing its observance was enacted in 1952, prior to that our country was called to observe a day of prayer - once by the Continental Congress in 1775, once by President John Adams in 1798 and again by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.  John Adams called for citizens of all faiths to pray "that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it."  Abraham Lincoln stated "...it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord."  God tells us in 2 Ch 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  Our nation desparately needs to be healed and protected from the dangers which threaten it.  I am blessed to live in a country where I may take a moment to bow my head in prayer - both in thanks for this wonderful land we live in and to petition the throne of God for healing of this land.