Pruning, free pattern, and the $2 dress...

 

I originally planned for June to be a month of focusing on friendship - with others, but mostly growing deeper in my friendship with Jesus. 

We all make our plans at one time or another, and often they are well thought through, good and productive, but have you found that sometimes God will take our plan and widen it's scope to grow us, or to make us aware of extra things that need to be included or perhaps discarded?

June has turned out to be a rather insightful God-widening, lovingly pruned, friendship walk between me and my Lord, and I believe, as always with the lessons God brings us, that it has been for my good, for His glory, and to help me flourish and bear fruit in these latter years of life.

As I reflect on the first half of 2024, His pruning shears have been in regular use within the garden of my heart and mind - it's just been a tad more evident this month. 

My friends, if you're undergoing a holy pruning season right now, do not resist it, but surrender to the work of God within you, for only He can remove the things which stifle our fruitfulness for the Kingdom, and flourish us in His blessed gift of life for the years still before us. 

JUNE at home...

We have lived here in the tropics for fifteen years now, and this is the coldest June we have experienced. Many of you will give a chuckle when I tell you the average night temperatures lately as your own winters are fraught with snow, ice and blizzards...but for us, who have barely more than a pair of jeans, some socks and a couple of cardigans to complete a winter wardrobe, it's definitely been a surprise.  For the past three weeks it's hovered around 11-14C overnight (51-57F) and with no heating in the house we've had to pull out both quilted coverlets and a polar fleece blanket for the bed. Hubby is wearing socks to bed as well. 

I was still swimming my laps in the cold pool at 6am every morning until Monday this week when it was so black outside that I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. Hence, swimming is now around lunchtime when the weather is a rather glorious 25-26C (78F) though the water is still extremely cold. The winter solstice is just days away so by my calculations I may be back to 6am swims the second week of July. God willing. 

We have had no rain since March, other than one morning of good showers in May, so the ground is dry and crunchy...

We've done a heap of tree pruning lately, and are still working on building up better soil in the small raised beds which we hope to use next autumn for growing the normal 'summer' vegetables we've raised every winter since buying our small home on a quarter acre. But it was a wise decision to not grow them this winter as the past few years they have been hammered by pests and bugs. By resting the soil (isn't God wise about resting the soil every seventh year?!) this year we have been able to work on other areas of the gardens - removing some trees, plants and shrubs; moving and re-moving fences; replenishing soil in raised beds and the front yard; making use of large pots for flowers and herbs; and tending to the fruiting trees and shrubs currently producing, such as blueberries and passionfruit. I am also just about to lift the ginger as the tops are dying and it's risen out of the soil and looking luscious. I get very excited about the ginger because every year it has been a success. 

Even our huge Poinciana had a prune, before hubby installed the birdhouse he made whilst teaching back in 2020. This tree is a real bird attracter and it's such a joy to sit underneath and look up at all the different types of avian visitors. 

Hot meals are on the menu at last, and soups rank high, such as this curried roast pumpkin & garlic soup with coconut cream and sauteed minced chicken. 

Many herbs are flourishing in the cooler temps, and I'm enjoying the surplus of coriander leaves (cilantro) because I can only grow it here in winter as the weather is too hot and humid the rest of the year. 

Blossom and the children visit every week, or we meet somewhere for a treat. They love to see what I have been baking and end up taking home a few containers full, so I've been trying a few different recipes lately, such as these sourdough choc-chip biscuits (cookies). You can find the recipe HERE

 Some cooking of a different kind has also been taking place. Magnesium lotion is very good for aches and pains and sleep, but it's quite expensive, so I made my own for a tiny fraction of the cost. The instructions are HERE and the result is lovely. My eldest daughter Kezzie has requested some, and I gave a tin to Blossom yesterday. It makes a great item for the gift cupboard!

I'm still working my way through each series of The Great British Sewing Bee, which definitely ignited the desire to sew my own clothes, so I recently bought a couple of patterns from Spotlight to try (along with more yarn to finish the trim on my new kitchen curtains)...

I also bought a bunch of reduced chrysanthemums as my roses are not faring well in the blooming department this winter and have been duly pruned back. 

I think in my last post I mentioned buying $2 sheets at the op shop in order to make some dresses because I don't want to use 'good' fabric until my skills are better honed. Well, I made my first dress from a $2 sheet and I quite like it so it's being added to my spring/summer/autumn 'housedress' wardrobe. There was even enough fabric left to make a top, which I'll be sure to do in the future.

I watch GBSB on the iPad Britbox app while I cut and sew...

(all done except the top stitching and hem)

(final fitting...and such a serious face as I put a hand in the pocket and assess the fit.  LOVE a side-pocket and was happy to learn how to include two)

(top stitching done)

Not bad for $2, and this inspired me even more to keep sewing my own clothes. 

Using up my quilting fabric for purposeful items around home is another sewing avenue of late. These are for my linen cupboard and each buttoned square contains a set of sheets. So easy to make, as well as being pleasing to the eye on the shelf. I will be thinking of many more ways to use fabric for organising and storage in future. Do you have any ideas to share??

Yesterday Blossom, the children and I went to the playground and as the kids played for three whole hours, we chatted about life, God, health, pruning, sewing and homeschool. After lunch we headed to a few op-shops as I wanted more cheap sheets for sewing, and Blossom needed clothes for Cully May. 

First stop was the RSPCA op-shop which proved wonderful as all the children's clothes were $2 each, and she found a huge bundle of unused homeschool books for Charlie David's first years. I found a lovely top for myself and a nice huge $2 sheet which could easily make two dresses. The kids loved this new-to-us op-shop as they also have cats for adoption that children are allowed to pet (if they prove to be calm and responsible around animals, which Blossom's children are). Blossom went in with the kids and they played with two lovely one-year-old cats for about 15 minutes...and then Blossom called Ross to ask if they could adopt them. He was in agreement, and she came home with the paperwork. They need to get permission from the owner of their rental home first, so we have prayed and asked God's will be done and shall wait to hear the outcome.

Blossom and I prayed openly about this in the op-shop, just as we'd prayed openly about other things when we sat in the playground with other people around. I'm very proud of my daughter for being so open about her faith in Christ, because I do not see much of this around...in fact I don't remember seeing people just praying together in shops or parks or playgrounds unconcerned about those nearby. This is what we want the children to learn, and I was blessed to have Cully May openly pray with me about something that mattered greatly to her while we were having lunch. 

Children learn by our example. In these last days, when it seems that the return of Jesus is possible in my lifetime, Blossom wants her children to know the Lord, turning to Him before any other, and able to share about Him to those they meet along life's path. That's a lesson for all of us, regardless of age...

2 Timothy 4:2...

"...be ready in season and out of season..."

I thought I would leave you with a few really good videos that have encouraged Blossom and I recently.

FREE GIFT 

Last thing for today is a free download for you to stitch - "Hope in the Lord". I believe that many of you have struggles or trials right now - it could be health, finances, relationships, or a decision which must be made. Dear ones, never forget that the Lord is right there for you. Never lose HOPE, never let the enemy tell you He does not care for that is a lie. 

Stand firm in your faith, in HOPE, in the truth of our Saviour's sacrifice and eternal love which will stand the test of eternity. He is for you, never against you. His will for your life is greater than your own will for it. Surrender to God and let Him carry you. xxxx

Use the link below to download this free pattern

DOWNLOAD Hope in the Lord pattern 

God bless dear friends, and may you find the delight of pruning to be worth the challenge it initially brings. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called, according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

Hugs and prayers,

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