A great way to wrap up a day...

When I got home this evening I took my camera out.   My flowerbed is coming to life.

We have Irises, Roses, Hens and Chicks, Sedum, Hostas, Asiatic Lilies, and a plant that I'm not sure what it is (with small white flowers) coming up and blooming.

Then I noticed the sun setting and the clouds.

 It was a great way to wrap up my day of work on a Monday.  :)

Here's wishing you beautiful flowers and skies this week!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Salmon Falls Prims: How about a giveaway??!!!

Check out Sara's blog and giveaway!


Salmon Falls Prims: How about a giveaway??!!!:   I have a new creation that I just finished. This Independence Day Celebration sign is brand new! What do you think?   Would you like ...



Have a great day!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Splendor

I saw one of the most beautiful sights on my way to work yesterday.  I was so inspired by it, I called my husband and told him about it, as I walked into the office.

I was traveling north on Hwy 309 and as I topped a hill that overlooks a valley, I gasped in awe at the scene before me.  

To the north there were clouds, blue-gray in color, outlined in white, contrasting against the bright blue sky.  The sun threw a warm glow across the valley from the east, highlighting the bright greens of spring in the pasture grasses and trees.   There was a light breeze and the bodies of water in the valley glistened like diamonds.  

It was a reminder of the love and care God has for us.  He has surrounded us with splendor, but it seems we too often are rushing by it without noticing.   I'm glad I was able to see it yesterday.

I wish I had my camera with me, another missed photo op, though I will have that picture in my mind for a while.

Day at the Museum

Today, we went to Crystal Bridges Museum, with several others from our church.   I took a few pictures.  

On the way, there was construction on I40... go figure...

but we made it.   

The first thing we see as we drive up to the museum is this cool tree sculpture.

Parking close was not available, but we finally found a space in the back forty.  As we walked to the museum I took a picture of, I'm guessing, wild flowers along the path.

In the museum we were allowed to take pictures without the flash.   There were a lot of beautiful oil paintings and other medium.

I took a picture of this painting, because it brought back fond memories of my childhood.  I got a little choked up, to be honest with you.  Most of my family is from the southeast and still there; Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.  Going to the ocean was something we did.  I miss the mountainous areas of the southern Appalachians and I miss the ocean.  If I could have a favorite place to have a home, it would be in a mountainous area near enough to the ocean I could go there on the weekends.

Then I saw this sculpture.  I believe it was bronze.

Next thing that caught my eye was this sculpture.  It is made with aluminum, silicone, fabric and paint.

Okay, then the crochet/sewing side of me saw this.  It is made of wire mesh, crochet and buttons attached with those plastic ties you see the tags attached to clothing with.

After the museum, we had some business to take care of in Rogers, AR.  I wanted to go to The Rabbit's Lair, it's a fabric shop, but by the time we got done with the business the shop was closed.   So I went to Hancock's.  I'm glad I went.  You know how Hancock's has always got some kind of sale or special thing going on?  Well I found a bargain today.   I got these two wool-felt bags for $1.99 each.  They normally run for $19.99.  I'm going to decorate them with wool-felt shapes, using a blanket stitch.   The dark red bag has a zippered middle section.  The multicolored one it an open tote.

On the way to work, earlier in the week, I noticed these irises blooming.   I asked David to pull over, on our way home today, so I could take a picture of them.  

 The irises we have in our flower bed are loaded down with buds, but no blooms yet.  I think some of them will be dark purple and other a very light purple.  This will be the first year, we have a lot of iris blooms.

I'm thankful the Lord blessed us with this day.  It was a beautiful day.

Here's wishing you a wonderful rest of the weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Trying it out...

I wanted to see how my camera would do while moving at fast speeds.   I always seem to see a good picture when I'm going down the road.   Now, understand I'm not talking about taking pictures as I drive.  No, I mean taking pictures as I ride.  :0)

Here are a few I took the other day, while riding in a car.

Well, I have to get ready for work.  

Until next time.... Have a great day!  :0)

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Catching Up...

It's been a few days since I last wrote.  This week has been a busy one and when I woke this morning, I realized it was already the weekend.

I slept in.

When I finally woke up, David was outside and when I went to the back door, there my hubby was planting flower seeds in pots to start them, before planting them.  I can't wait to see them blooming later.

Today was a day of relaxing and getting a few things done that I've been wanting to do, but didn't have time this week.

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If you have any yarn left over from projects and are wondering what to do with it, how about using  it to make coasters.

I had some yarn left over from the last set of dishcloths I crocheted.  So, I decided to crochet a coaster using the two yarns together.  It makes for a thicker more absorbent coaster.

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This week at work we had a pot luck for one of the young ladies leaving.  She is going to spend time with her children, while they are young.  I wish her the very best and think she made a wise decision. 

I have to tell you the group I work with know how to pot luck!  The potluck was Mexican themed.

Everything I tried was yummy!

I took a slow cooker enchilada casserole and it was a hit.  There was nothing left.  That's a good feeling.  :)

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The log cabin quilt I've been working on is coming along slow, but I know I will get it done.

I have a new camera and have been trying it out.   The pictures in this blog, except for the potluck pictures, were taken with my new camera.  My husband told me I need to carry my camera with me, so that I have it when ever I see a beautiful scene or something I want to take a picture of.   So, I'm going to make a small case for it so that I can carry it in my handbag.  I have a camera case for it but it is too big for me to take with me all the time.

Here are a few more pics, I've taken while learning the camera.

I guess that's all I have for now.  Here's wishing you a wonderful weekend!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Free Gift...

This weekend has been a very good one, with beautiful weather, relaxing days, and I was able to accomplish a few things.

This morning I got around slow and didn't make it to Sunday school, but made it to church.  Not sure what happened, I got up on time, read my Bible and had my devotion time and then I lost track of time and before I knew it my hair was still wet from the shower and it was time to leave for Sunday school.  So I told my husband I would see him in church.


This afternoon I baked Amish Friendship Bread.  It is yummy.  I put starters in the freezer for later use.  One starter makes two loaves.


I found the recipe on http://allrecipes.com/.   Look for Amish Friendship Bread I.   There are several recipes.  You can find the starter there too.   This starter is good for white bread and sweet breads.

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This evening we had the Lord's Supper or Communion.  It is a special time to me, for I always go back to the day the Lord changed my life.  The day I surrendered to Him and turned away from who I was; a hateful, angry filled, foul mouthed, smoking, drinking, two-faced, conniving woman.

The amazing things is He loved me anyway, loved me when I didn't love Him.  He loved though I denied Him over and over, trying to live my life on my terms, in my way.

Does this sound familiar to you?   Do you want to know peace like you've never known?

It's simple, really, here's what you need to know.

• God's love is revealed in the Bible.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

God loves you.  He wants to bless you and make your life full and complete.  He also wants to give you life forever, even after you take your last breath on this earth.

• We are sinful.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. ~ Romans 3:23

We all do things that we know are wrong and that's why we feel separated from God, because God is holy and good, and we are not.

• Sin has a penalty

For the wages of sin is death. ~ Romans 6:23

In the same way criminals must pay for their crimes, sinners must pay a penalty for their sins.  If you  sin you will pay the penalty of spiritual death: you not only will die physically but you will also be separated from our holy God for eternity.  The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called Hell.    From my personal experience, I can tell you Hell is very real.  God showed me Hell and where I would spend eternity if I denied Him again.  It is unlike any bad or horrible thing you may face on this earth.   I don't have the words to truly describe it but there was a knowledge of being separated far from God and loved ones, there was a torment that is indescribable and the sounds of the others there, moaning and crying out for relief, such sorrow...

• Christ has paid our penalty!

But God commanded His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8

Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, paid the penalty for your and my sins.  You might think you have to live a perfect life or do good deeds for God to love you.  But the Bible says that Christ loved and you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him.   When He was on the cross, He was thinking of you.

• Salvation is a free gift

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

Grace means undeserved favor.  It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself; forgiveness of sins and eternal life.  God's gift to you if free.  You don't have to work for it.  All you have to do is gladly receive it.   Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you.

• Christ is at your heart's door

Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me. ~ Revelation 3:20

Jesus Christ wants to have a person relationship with you.  Imagine Jesus standing at the door of your heart; your emotions, intellect and will.  Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into you heart and life.

• You must receive Him

But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. ~ John 1:12

That means anyone, man, woman, boy or girl.  If you believe, you are a child of God.  You have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything and everything.   Being a Christian is having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.   And even better, it is a relationship that will last forever. 

Do you believe? 

Have you talked to God about it?  

IF not, please do so today.  There is no special way to talk to God, talk to Him as if He were sitting next to you.   Tell Him you believe and want to live as His child.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart.   

If you have prayed (talked with God) and accepted Christ as your Savior, please share it with me and with others.  We will rejoice with you and support you in prayer and encouragement as you grow with the Lord.

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Beautiful so far...

This weekend has been beautiful so far.

To kick the weekend off, we played put-put golf last night.
 It was a lot of fun.


We finished up with arcade and pinball games.

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I think we are past any hard cold snap and the garden has been started.

Today basil, oregano, heirloom tomatoes and peppers were planted.

We will plant seeds too.   Here are some seeds we have so far.

David bought a pretty plant to go in the flower bed.  It is a Dianthus.


My mini rose has a lot of red leaves on it, I think it is going to bloom beautifully, later on.



I also have seeds that will be planted in the flower bed.

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I came across straight pins with no point today, as I pinned fabric pieces together for the log cabin quilt.

The batch of pins I'm using has had several in it.

The bad thing is I don't notice them until I try to pin the fabric.  

When I find them I set them aside and then put them in a container I have for bent or broken pins and needles; or in the case of these blunt pins, toss them in the trash.   

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I tried a new brownie mix today.  

 It was a cream cheese swirl brownie mix.  

They smelled yummy cooking and tasted yummy.   

I was given a Amish bread starter earlier this week.  I will have to bake it and divide it tomorrow (Sunday).   I'm thinking of making an Amish Friendship bread with it.  I will share the recipe when I bake it up.   

I read earlier today that you can freeze the starter in 1 cup increments for later use.  I'm planning on doing that, as I'm having trouble finding takers to pass the starter on to.

Thinking of the Amish Friendship bread I found this poem to share with you.

May God touch your life

In a very special way

As you have touched my life

In all you do and say

For I'm eternally grateful

For a special friend like you

A friend that is heaven sent

So faithful and so true.

© By M.S.Lowndes

Have a great weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia