Nana-ing and Blossom sews...

 I've not had time these past days to think about blogging, nor much else to be honest, as with our sweet Blossom attending a few hospital visits (one for another ultrasound)  and our dear elderly neighbour having fallen and broken her ankle, more important things have been attended to. 

Like cooking meals and baking for three households, plus the joyous task of babysitting Cully May and Rafaella. 

Firstly, the news about Blossom's little boy is that he's still far larger than average and the doctors have decided she should not go further than 38 weeks (she is 36.2 weeks at the moment) so unless she goes into spontaneous labour it looks like she'll be induced around December 2nd. Now, my girl would much rather avoid induction so has asked if you'd join us in prayer that she goes into natural labour just before that date. 

The hole in the baby's heart  has not closed but she has been assured that he'll be fine. 

Today when the girls came over I had baked cinnamon scrolls (Blossom's favourite treat and her request every year instead of a birthday cake) and made fresh blackcurrant jelly (jello) as Cully May has fallen in love with my homemade jellies and asks for it quite often now. 

It's very hot here with summer just two weeks away so I doubled a quilt on the floor, spread soft fluffy pillows around, brought out their favourite books, coloured pencils and toys, and cranked up the air conditioning before putting the original Care Bears movie on for them to watch.

Bob the dog came to visit as well and  every so often all three would wander outside to play in the cubby house, watch the chickens or ride the rocking horse... then they'd scurry back inside to cool down with bowls of jelly and lots of strawberries. In fact, for lunch they asked if I would make strawberry sandwiches! And I did! Rafaella thought they were delicious but Cully May decided cheese might have been a better option so she munched away on that instead. 

As the day wore on more and more toys found their way into the loungeroom but they had so much fun and asked if we could always have pillows and a quilt when they visited because it's so comfy. 

Nana is quite tired now, but my heart is full to overflowing. When your 4yo granddaughter says "Nana, I love you" and hugs you so fiercely you cannot breathe, well, there's no words which well enough describe the depth of love which flows between the two of you. 

And then 2yo Rafaella curls up in my lap like a baby and kisses me over and over, before wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing as hard as her little toddler arms are able. Love, Joy. 

Nana-ing is a rather favourite pastime.

Now I have a couple of quiet days ahead so I'll be taking tea, enjoying slices of sweet impossible pie, and sitting with a sketch book and pencil to see what pretty little ideas will find their way from my mind to paper in preparation for  next year.

Blossom Sews...

Blossom was asked by her IG followers whether she'd been sewing for her soon-to-arrive baby boy and indeed she has! Thought you may like to see his increasing mummy-made wardrobe?

Won't he be the best dressed boy in town?! 

Everything is made with the softest fabrics and perfectly lined. She has such a gift with dressmaking skills. Unfortunately she's had to put aside any more sewing for the time being as it's far too uncomfortable now, but before she decided to have a break a few more sweet outfits for little girls made their way into her Etsy Shop. Here's a peek at some...

 

There's only handful left now so if you'd like to see them just pop over HERE to Blossom's LUCY & MAY Etsy Shop.

I'll leave you today with a photo sent to me by Theresa who made my "Willing Hands" mini quilt in lovely autumn tones...it's beautiful!

My original was made in 30's reds, greens and blues so it's wonderful to see how it looks in different colours.

I've written blog posts in years past about how a design can be altered by replacing one colour palette for another, but when you actually see it for yourself it does inspire you to think outside the box. 

you'll find the pattern for Willing Hands here

Hopefully I will have time tomorrow to write up a few recipes to include in Friday's free stitch-along blog post, but if not that's fine. All things eventually come about when the time is right. Don't you find that?

Bless you all sweet friends. May your own days overflow with joy.

hugs

Finding contentment...

 This new week began so cheery (especially after last week's run of awful migraines) with many things ticked off my to-do list, new designs stitched, more designs sketched and a much clearer vision of how to balance my family/home/work life. 

I was out of balance you see. Perhaps it's my nature that I try to be all-in with every area of responsibility, but slowly this year that mental attitude has been changing - it's been gradually slowing, gradually sifting through a maze of too much or the idea of doing more than I'm personally able. 

An early morning half-hour with God, sitting in the old brown leather recliner which is tucked into a corner of my sewing room, with Bible, cup of tea and usually Sophie-cat at my feet, has increasingly brought about lessons in the gentle art of balancing what is most important, then choosing to attend to those things first before pondering (counting the cost - Luke 14:28-30) of all my other ideas or pursuits, and making prayerfully wise decisions about whether to pursue them or let them go.  

As I mentioned recently, a huge lesson learned this year has been that if I am going to add something into my life then I need to take something else out. Being weighed down by too many projects, responsibilities, ideals, relationships and plans leads to an unbalanced overwhelmed life and at 61 that's not good at all. 

Whilst the Lord has me here, he has work for me to do. And it is that work above all else which must hold my attention and my heart. 

My life verse for 2020 is Ephesians 2:10 and right before last New Year I stitched these two designs as a personal reminder, a reinforcement I suppose you'd say, of what the Lord had very clearly written across my heart for the year ahead. 

I know many of us have the best of intentions when we do certain things, and those things of themselves are not bad at all, but how easy it is to be pulled away by the 'good' when the Lord is waiting to direct us differently - towards the 'better'.

Being content at home, being content to do what I'm able and to let go of that which would tax what was left of my precious time and energy is a lesson which ran into, and was illuminated by, frequent pondering on Ephesians 2:10.

Yesterday was a day of focusing on the home, on the chores that are too often overlooked and even forgotten - like washing windows. How lovely it was after a good scrub to see clearly through the kitchen window into the side garden, and to see most of the back garden through the glass sliding doors. I thought afterwards that this is a bit like life...over time so many things build up and we can't see or think as clearly as we would if the 'clutter' was removed and life was simpler. 

Making conscious choices with regards to day to day life now, and also into the future, the view overall is much clearer than before and my clarity of thought is being refined. How wise is our Lord to remind us to live a quiet life, to be about our own business, to live in the land and befriend faithfulness. All of these directions resonate deeply within me and as I go about my days now they echo upon my thoughts.

Here at home...

This week I've been able to accompany Blossom and the little ones on a final shopping trip before she settles down at home to 'nest' before the baby arrives. Our weather is fiercely hot now and late pregnancy swelling is upon my girl, so with all things considered it's best for her to rest up and just do what needs to be done and not much more. 

Our three chickens are settled in the new coop which is safely housed within the chicken enclosure beneath the large shady Guava tree. We got Penny a few weeks ago and she's a wonderful layer (she's around 2 years old) but the other two we got 11 days ago. They are almost 17 weeks old and growing fast. Such gentle girls, but sadly Penny is a real bully and we've had to watch her carefully. She's gone beyond hen pecking and can be quite savage if they even walk by her. One of our newbies has decided to fly to the top of the red hibiscus and sleep there of a night, perhaps to avoid her. We're considering rehoming Penny. She's been an only chicken most of her life and just can't seem to get accustomed to having friends live with her. If you have any suggestions please share them. 

With the ghastly heat back with full force meals are mostly cold salads or laden with a side of salad. I made a big batch of cous cous salad on Sunday for lunches during the week, along with more French chicken salad to have on sandwiches during the in between days or for easy dinners. 

We picked another garden bed of radishes on Monday and I decided to use the radish tops to make pesto.

I found this recipe in a library book about preserving vegetables. It made two large jars so I froze one and we're using the other, though I did make a few changes to the recipe as it was a little bit bitter. 

I ended up doubling the parmesan and adding a large handful of fresh basil from the garden. In the end it was very tasty and tonight we shall have it with ravioli and salad.

One of our plans when we first moved into our home two years ago was to tear down the small shed and, as we're at the point now of needing more garden space for future vegetable beds, hubby began clearing the inside shelving and contents of the shed last week. 

Yesterday he was about to begin dismantling the outside of the shed when he fell and badly sprained his ankle as well as injuring his knee in the process. The ankle swelled up like a balloon and he was in a lot of pain, wrapping it in ice for hours. Fortunately it's not broken but will take a while to mend. This morning I went and got him a walking cane so at least he can hobble from one room to the other a little easier now. 

It's one of those things you really notice the older you get - healing is slower. And of course this frustrates him as he's quite active and prefers to be 'doing something' than just sitting, but time (and the Lord) is the healer and rest he must for now. 

Sewing...

I've finished all the blocks for my free Christmas stitch-along and had intended sewing them together today and tomorrow in order to start the four-part project with you next week, but I shall delay it until the end of next week when hopefully Mr E will be recovered and back at work. 

A little peek...

My next set of Faith In Hand patterns will be emailed to all club members on October 31st. I had meant to share photos with you on the blog this month but time and life redirected those plans - and that's okay. Truth is I often forget to show you, but as I'm so happy with the November designs, especially the Ephesians 2:10 sewing companion project (full pattern included with the November patterns) I'll leave you today with those pics...

If you're interested in joining just pop over HERE before Saturday.

There is no set length of membership - join and leave whenever you like. 

There's also a free gift pattern for new members and I'll send that off to you via email within 12 hours of joining. 

Okay, I must be away as it's nearing lunch time and sandwiches are to be made, along with a nice cool drink and a sweet treat. I baked Raspberry Coconut Slice yesterday as Rosie was coming to visit today but after Mr E had his fall that catch-up had to be postponed so hubby will have a sweetly contented tummy this afternoon and more for dessert tonight. 

God bless you all so very much, and may His generous provision, grace, mercy, hope and love be abundantly poured over your life in the days and weeks ahead.

hugs

PS: If you don't want to miss anything from the blog, or the free Christmas stitch-along, pop along HERE to sign up for my free newsletter. It only goes out two or three times a month and I never share your information. 

A Quiet Life series: places of rest...

Taking time to stop, rest and refresh is something many of us don't do often enough. For me, home is not just where I live, care for my family, work in the garden, prepare nutritious meals and tend to numerous and varied housekeeping chores - it's also my place of employment. This means it can be difficult much of the time to 'switch off' from the joint responsibilities and privileges of living and working in the same space as my eyes too easily fall upon what needs to be done, what can be done, and what I want to do. It took a long time (with many reminders from my husband) to finally comprehend living this way was keeping me exhausted and distracted both mentally and physically, and overall was robbing me of the rest my body and thoughts needed. 

This past year a lot has changed for hubby and I, but one major change which has made an enormous difference to our lives has been embracing the sabbath rest...resting from work, resting from chores, resting from all the overthinking, planning, and driving need to achieve everything on a to-do list by dinner time. And you know, we found it very hard to stop for a day - which is why it's taken so long for me to write about it. We needed a mind-shift, a heart shift. We had to discover for ourselves the difference it made to truly rest that one day a week and not feel guilty doing so. 

I can honestly tell you today that we achieve just as much in six days as we used to in seven, but we no longer rush, we no longer push our bodies beyond their limit, we stop regularly for a healthy snack, cup of tea, a chat about God or life or what we need to do next in the garden, and we even take a short nap if our bodies need it.

A couple of weekends ago we packed a picnic lunch and flasks of cool drinks before driving north to Mount Fox, a place we've long wanted to see. Situated in the Girringun National Park, to get there it's a long steep drive with far too many hairpin turns up a very dangerous single lane road that hugs the mountain on one side with a sheer cliff face drop on the other. But once you get there...aah, the serenity. 

Before the ascent we came across some relaxed cows who shared the road and weren't very keen to move to the side and allow our station wagon to pass so we slowed right down and gradually made our way through. To be honest this did not bother me at all for what I love almost as much as rolling mountain and fields in the country are the cows.

Jesus would often remove Himself from the crowds and His followers to be alone and soak in the presence of God, but He was also very aware that the disciples also needed down-time away from the day to day interactions with people and responsibilities.

...He said to them, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:32

I used to think it was better to be a very busy person and though I naturally have a lot of adrenaline and need to move my body in order to break it down and use it up (or I'd never sleep), that desire for busyness had within it an element of pride which I've also encountered in many other people throughout my life - they work, work, work, viewing their achievements as evidence of their value, forgetting or not realising that whilst the labour of our days is important it's not the most important thing. 

Time given to God, to relationships, to caring for our individual needs and being present in each moment whether that moment be with others, alone hanging up the washing, sweeping the kitchen, or quietly watching a sunset with my husband as we share a pot of tea out the back after dinner - these are the most important things. These define our character and are what others will fondly remember about us. 

I'd rather be remembered for loving hugs, the scones and tea we share in the garden, laughter with my grandchildren as we snuggle together reading books, really listening when loved ones or friends share their stories, and my blue eyes looking into theirs and that person knowing I was truly present in our conversation. Wouldn't you?

We're planning more picnics while the moderate tropical winter is still with us, more restful days of exploring and relishing nature. More cows and wallabies and kangaroos, more green fields, more winding roads, more places of rest.

Rest doesn't have to be away from home, though.

I'm discovering that just stopping from our labours one day a week, and on other days being mindful to take breaks as they are needed and truly interact with those around us, allows rest.

Alone at home most days of the week I now brew myself a cup of relaxing tea twice a day using fresh mint from our garden and I sit for twenty minutes or so, without distractions, to enjoy it. Often this time is spent on the comfy blue outdoor couch watching native birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bees and our chickens going about their ways. Other times I'll play some quiet music and rock back and forth in my recliner.

It's wonderful to have discovered this lesson because it's changing my life for the better. 

Peace like a river flows through my thoughts now, and increased gentleness is filing away at the old sharpness in my character. It's easier to let go, easier to forgive, easier to accept disturbances or changes to routine...and it's given me more time in my Bible, more time to ponder what I read and study what it means. It's brought me closer to Jesus and to my husband. 

And I wonder is this one reason why Jesus called the disciples away for periods of quiet rest? To allow their minds to rest from the hustle and bustle thoughts of the day, that by quietness their understanding of what they saw and heard from Jesus would be magnified? So they could really hear His voice and look into His loving eyes and truly know Him? Maybe so.

We will each have our own version of what can be a place of rest, and I realise for some of you that Covid restrictions have for now closed or restricted any opportunity to get out in the country and enjoy a wider expanse of nature...but I'd like you to consider how you can take a time of quiet rest just where you are for now. 

Sitting quietly with a candle flickering and soft music; one chapter of a favourite book to read or perhaps listen to on audio; giving yourself a pedicure and painting those toenails in your favourite colour; scented hand cream massaged slowly into your tired fingers; sipping a drink whilst watching birds flitting to and fro outside; picking flowers from the garden and arranging them in a small vase or glass jar beside the bed or on the kitchen windowsill...can you think of other ways to take a time of quiet rest? Please share them in the comments below because you may have the perfect idea for someone who is far too weary or stretched to think right now. 

Bless you, dear ones.

Before closing today I'd like to remind anyone who has been interested in stitching patterns from my Faith In Hand Club that there's only a few days left this month to join. Memberships close on the 30th because the next set of patterns are emailed to all Faith In Hand stitchers on the 31st.

Here are the three designs you'll receive on Friday...

To find out more pop over HERE to the Club page.

Well, I must be away as this morning I was blessed to babysit Cully May and Rafaella and I'm rather tired now as they have a lot of energy and we played for hours, gathered tomatoes and capsicums, read books, chatted with the chickens and fed them spinach and porridge, gathered eggs and drank a lot of tiny cups of tea with jam roll and fresh strawberries. 

They were here because their mummy and daddy went off to have a middle-of-the-pregnancy ultrasound where they discovered bubby is a healthy and big baby (Rafaella was 9lb 6oz so we're wondering how big this baby will get) and also found out whether our little cherubs would be welcoming a baby sister or a baby brother.

We all know now but I shan't say anything on the blog until I check with Blossom first. 

We had the most wonderful time together and the girls went home at lunchtime with shining faces, red carnations and orange hibiscus flowers firmly grasped in their small hands. Their delight in the simplest things is a lesson we can all learn from....

Till next time, loving hugs and an armful of blessings to you,

In the kitchen, a new pincushion and lots of freebies...

Last month I shared a tutorial to make a lace-cuffed wrist pincushion which was very popular indeed. 

I decided to make a second one to give to Blossom but the last couple of weeks have been rather busy so even though I had the fabrics prepared over a week ago it wasn't until Saturday afternoon that I finally had time to sew it together. 

Blossom likes green so I chose a pretty olive green print and added one of my treasured vintage buttons to the centre. 

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and can't wait to give it to her when she and the little ones visit tomorrow.

When looking for a special pin to add with this gift I found some hand-made owls and thought one of them perfect as my girl has a soft spot for owls.

You'll find the tutorial HERE

Sunday afternoon was spent in the kitchen with a variety of things on the go - vegetable and cashew cous cous salad, sultana scones, pineapple fruit cake (two of them), sundried tomato bread, coleslaw,  and a blackberry & apple crumble served with coconut milk yoghurt...

Yesterday I indulged in the leftovers of the crumble with a nice hot cup of tea and some stitching whilst catching up on Masterchef. If only I could have that kind of morning tea every day...mmmm. 

In the photo above you can see a peek to the left of the new cardie pattern I'm knitting, this time for Rafaella. Knitting really stirs up the arthritis in my right hand (unlike hand embroidery which soothes it) so this will probably be the last thing I knit for a while (or until next autumn or winter for Blossom's new baby, due in December).

The newest pattern I'm stitching won't be available until August because I'm always a couple of months ahead with my Faith In Hand club designs but I didn't think you'd mind a little peek.

(read more about the Club here)

My email inbox the past month has really been swamped with people asking for my older patterns and to be honest, it really overwhelms me. There's the time aspect - replying, searching through my 600+ patterns, deciding whether I can do it (or whether I want to re-release that pattern), the correspondence back and forth (often many emails) - plus the reformatting and updating of old patterns to a new file. All this takes hours some days and I've decided to no longer give that precious time away.

SO...I'm now spending just one hour per week adding one or two more patterns to my Etsy Shop and perhaps one to my free pattern page.

Yesterday I refreshed the free pattern page with a number of my most requested freebies, and these included the remaining ones from Craftsy/Bluprint (which is closing and not allowing my four free patterns to be downloaded anymore) so if you'd like to browse through the ones I've chosen for this season go HERE to the Free Patterns page.

One of the old favourites is Joy In The Ordinary...

I also have a Tutorials page which you may have missed?

Go HERE

One of the most popular tutorials I've shared in the past few years was the Perched Sewing Caddy...

I also have a page which has links to the blog posts I've shared which help with hand embroidery stitches and the supplies I personally favour.

Go HERE to the Stitching Helps Page.

The most popular helps post is the backstitch and lazy daisy tutorial which also includes tips on how to sew smaller hand embroidery stitches.

Another post I was reminded about recently was "Stitching and the Ditching of Perfection" which I wrote in 2015. If you worry about what the back of your hand embroidery looks like let me encourage you to go HERE and have a read. 

Now I must be away and attend to dinner as my dear husband will be home soon and with winter nights bringing darkness rather early we tend to eat around 5.30 instead of the later meals shared during the summer months so I have less time at the end of the day to enjoy kitchen duties. 

My menu tonight will be a spicy black makhani daal with brown rice, and an apricot shortcake for dessert (which will also make a yummy morning tea tomorrow when the family comes to visit!).

So tell me, what are you cooking or sewing or making at the moment?

I'd genuinely love to know.

God bless you and keep you safe and close to His loving heart,

hugs