Bread, Veggies, and a little duck tape...

I woke up hungry this morning so I baked a skillet of biscuits.  They were yummy with butter and red plum jelly along with a cup of hot coffee.  It was a pretty good way to start the day.

My husband was outside, so I went out to check on him.  It was a good morning to be out.  He was weeding the two raised beds we use for the vegetable garden.  It is in the early stage and not a lot is growing yet but I was able to get a picture of new tomatoes, Swiss chard and green onions that have come up.

I've mentioned the green carpet in my sewing room and how it is a chore to keep it clean of threads and such.

I can't afford to pull the carpet up and put down tile at this time but I'm tired of the battle between carpet and threads, pins, etc.  So I bought two packs of the foam tiles and laid them down on top of the carpet.  This will make clean up easier and will be more comfy for my morning exercise routine.

There were several edge pieces left over.

So I set them out in a pattern, flipped them over and duck taped the backside, then took an X-Acto knife and very carefully trimmed the edges to the best of my ability...  

Anyway, I made a mat to put down where I stand to cut fabric.
It measures 12.25" x 22".

That's it for now.

Have great day!
Sonia

Scoffed...

Have you ever been laughed at?

How did it make you feel?

How did you react?

My heart went out to a friend of mine, who recently experienced this situation.   They were being told of another person's ill health.  The person is suffering from cancer and is terminal.  My friend responded that they would pray for that suffering individual.  As they walked away, they heard laughter and someone saying "they are going to pray for him", laughing out loud as if it was a ludicrous thing, praying for the sick,

After hearing this, I was compelled to write what I have learned in my walk with the Lord about scoffers.  I believe every believer will face being scoffed or laughed at, at one time or another, if they are truly trusting and trying to live their life for God.

My first thought went to Job.  Remember how he suffered and was mocked?

• Job 21:14-15 (NIV) Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him?  What would we gain by praying to Him?'

Or perhaps a scripture in the book of Psalms fits it better.

• Psalm 73:11 (NIV)  They say, "How would God know?  Does the Most High know anything?"

I can only imagine what my friend felt at the moment upon hearing the laughter. I'm sure questions started going through their mind. Questions like "Are they laughing at me, questioning my faith?", "Are they really that insensitive?", or maybe "Are they that angry at God?".

My friend continued on their way after hearing that scoffing statement.

It's a natural instinct, for a lot of people, to turn around and tell the person laughing exactly what they think about their rude behavior.  Then there are others who wouldn't waste their breath on them again if they had too.  Needless to say a scoffer does not make very many "brownie points" with people.

So, how should we respond to scoffers?

• Psalm 1:1-4 (NIV) Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers.  Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

In 1 Peter it tells us to live good lives among the unbelievers.

• 1 Peter 2:15 (NIV) For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
• 1 Peter 2:21-23 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.  "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth." When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats.  Instead, he entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

These verses tell me that we should "turn the other cheek" so to speak.

Give it to God and carry on.

Keep on living for God to the best of your ability, and last but not least, pray for the offender so that they might learn to walk in the light.

Sonia

Busy Day...

Boy, the day has just flown by.  I was busy with homework this morning, then after lunch I did a little more organizing in my sewing room.

I took things that were on my cutting table and made a place for them up on the wall for storage when not in use.

I organized my fabric cabinet, mostly the bottom section next to the batting.

Then I worked on my crochet/yarn area.  I was able to organize the top of this yard dresser by moving items to the window sill.

Then I took a break and did my Bible study.   I finished Romans and am now studying Acts.  I got to tell you, the Apostle Peter sure could preach, not backing down from those who opposed what he was teaching.

from http://newlife.id.au/bible-study-notes/the-apostle-peter/

Okay, then I sat at my sewing machine.  I finished the last "Gift Box" I needed for the quilt guild.  Then I started chain piecing some charm squares I found in my organizing endeavor earlier.

I also have new garden blooms to show.  If you'd like to see them, please go to my WordPress blog.  Here's a link to it.  https://sonia67bones.wordpress.com/

Hugs,
Sonia

Gift Boxes

I finally went through my fabric stash and started picking out colors for the quilt I'm making for my and David's bed.  This is a start.

I've decided to use the monthly block patterns from my quilt guild meetings.  I have two others I need to catch up on, a Rail Fence and a Card Trick block, but here is the first one.The blue one is for my quilt and the brown block will go into a kit to be sold at our annual quilt show this Fall.  This block is called Gift Boxes.

Hugs,
Sonia

Blooms and a flour sack

I've seen all types of reminders that today is earth day, everything from Snoopy reminding us, promotions to care for land surrounding us and even new blooms in my garden.

There's even a scripture that points to caring for the earth.

Genesis 2:15 ~  And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

My dwarf blue spruce is showing new growth and more of my irises bloomed today.  I even zoomed in on our first rose buds, on one of the climbing rose bushes.

There was also a reminder to re-purpose an existing item.  

I needed a cushion for a chair in my sewing room and yesterday I found a flour sack. So I took a foam piece, about 18" square, and cut it down for the seat and the back piece. Then with the feed sack, wrong side showing, I marked where to sew to tuck the seat cushion in, and stitched it in from the sides, enough to cinch in but allow the seat cushion to be put in or out. Then turned it right side out and stuffed the foam pieces to form the cushion.

I want to be able to wash it when needed, so I just used two large safety pins on the back to snug it up around the back piece and close it up at the top. That way I can take the foam pieces out when it needs cleaning.

Tomorrow I hope to be able to get some quilt blocks done.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Hugs,

Sonia

In His sight

As I drove home tonight,

What did I see? 

The big bright moon, 

Staring down at me.

Peeking between the clouds

And shining so bright, 

As if to say,

It will be alright.

You see me through the clouds,

Now trust and believe,

That all, is as it should be.

Remember the One,

Who put me in the sky, 

He always has you in His sight.

Sonia Parham 4-19-16

Monday...

Hi, hope your day went well.

I started my day with planting another ivy that was rooted over the winter.  I found the pink square pot at Savers in Fort Smith and thought it would do well in this wooden basket.

This is how the side of my sewing machine looked earlier today.

I found this planter when I found the pink and decided to use to put all of the above items in one place.

I try to stay organized most of the time but I think I must be a clutter bug at heart.  My desk in my sewing room has been like this for a week or so and I've been doing my bible study at my sewing table.

So today, I decided I better clean it up, so that I can sit at the desk to study my bible, to water color, scrapbook, beading, etc.

At last room to use... now I need to stay on top of it instead of letting it get back in the state it was.

Have a great day!

Sonia

A nice way to start the day

This morning I looked out my sewing room window and saw my first iris bloom of the year.  I went outside and took a picture of it and two other bloomers.

First Iris bloom this year

White Iris up close

Deutzia 'Charonnay Pearls' in bloom

Petunias in bloom

It was over clouded this morning with a cool breeze and the bloomer flowers brightened it up.   

A nice way to start the day.

~Sonia

Just a little lumbar help

Hi, just sharing a pillow I made today.  It is good for lumbar support in one of the computer chairs here at home.  It measures 10" x 10".  The front is a pinwheel of sorts and the back is more like confetti.

Front

Back

~ Sonia

Too blessed...

Got a little stressed today and thought about using the anti-stress kit as shown above, but I didn't want to add a headache to it.

I knew that if I didn't do something, the stress would do me in and make the rest of my day a bummer.

So I went to my sewing room and opened my Bible.

God gave me hands for work.  So, I went through my books and jewelry and got rid of old, wore out or broken items and then organized the rest.

Then I took one of my favorite sweaters that had a hole at the elbow on one sleeve and patched it up.  I had some flannel fabric that matched the buttons. I will use it here at home when I get chilly.

I was then feeling less stressed and remembered my husband had brought home donuts and that something sweet or chocolaty is always a tasty bonus when I'm stressed.  Yes I'm having one now with a cappuccino.

And when I taste something so yummy and think about the blessings I have, I realize shouldn't be stressed and that maybe I'm making a mountain out of molehill, subconsciously.  

However, in the future I need to skip this last yummy step to dealing with stress, as I am having to ride my exercise bike and do a full body stretch workout each day to try to get rid of few pounds(or more) I've put on.

So, if you're feeling a little stressed, take to it God, get busy and if you feel the need for chocolate, go ahead and have chocolate too and remember, you're too blessed to be stressed.

Hugs,
Sonia

Simple pleasures

Hi, while driving to Fort Smith this afternoon I thought of a few pictures I've taken in the last week.  The rains have brought on new growth and animal activity.

Black birds enjoying a springtime bath.

Thinking of the pictures, made me think of how life can be when you trust God to lead your life and follow His will.  Each day is a new beginning.  I was also inspired by a Bible verse I read yesterday.

Psalm 16:11 (KJV) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Beautiful scene on top of a hill on Hwy 309

Another pretty scene on Hwy 64.

These pictures depict one of the simple pleasures of life ~ enjoying God's beautiful creation.

Hugs,
Sonia

Have a blessed Sunday

Have a blessed Sunday!

Hugs,

Sonia

Oats to Tools

This morning I finished off a container of quick oats.  I needed something for my set of screwdrivers and a few other tools.  Instead of buying something to hold them I decided to up cycle the empty oatmeal container.

 

So I picked out fabric that was heavier, like a lightweight denim. Using pinking shears I cut a piece of fabric the size needed to cover the oatmeal container.  I used paperclips to hold the fabric in place as I rolled the container to get the correct length.

Using a hot blue gun, I glued the fabric to the container, securing it down the side, the bottom and over the top rim.

Then I added my tools.

The lid was left over, so I decided to re-purpose it too.   I traced it out on the fabric, then cut it out with pinking shears and put the cut circle on the top of the lid.  Then I added three round magnets on the backside of the lid, making it a fridge magnet.

This was easy to do and went quick.  You could use scrapbook paper instead of fabric.  I decided to keep it simple in style, but you could decorate a container like as much as you want.

Sonia