Count Your Many Blessings

The other day, a friend of mine mentioned writing a journal on the blessing that come your way, no matter how small.   I think it's a good idea.

Take time to notice those blessings that come your way.  For instance....

The sun's rays cut through the clouds in the Eastern sky... what a great way to start the day (a blessing).

or

This cantaloupe, my husband picked yesterday (his one and only cantaloupe that grew this year)... it was the sweetest I have tasted in a very long time (a blessing).

In the Bible, God made a promise of blessing to Abraham and it still applies to us today.

And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. ~ Ezekiel 34:26

So, give it a try.  Start a journal and write down a blessing every time it comes your way.

I'm going to start one.

I think we will be surprised of how blessed we are.  :)

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TODAY'S QUESTION

What is something that can always make you feel better?

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Tonight, after my Bible study, I worked on my quilt project.  I got quite a bit done as I sang along with the Gaither Vocal Band.   Those guys can sure praise the Lord!  :)   Here's one that I can totally relate to.

 Okay, I got a little side-tracked.... back to my quilt project... I hope to have a finished project to show you soon.  

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Don't wait for a crisis 

to discover what is 

important in your life. 

~ Quilted Hearts

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

My answer to the last question:  I wanted to be a soldier.

AQST Block of the Month Begins!

Hello All!!   I started feeling much better this afternoon.  Thank the Lord above!!  After a week of feeling run down and tired, then running a little fever yesterday, I was ready for it to be over.

Well, it begins today - My first block of the month!

I have decided to try to keep the blocks easy, as we are in the busy time of the year and then it seams :)  that life always throws a wrench in the works.

We will finish the last block next October, just in time for Christmas.  This will be a large wall hanging, all blocks will be Christmas themed.  It will be a surprise each month.  :)   If you miss the day I post it, you can find the current block on the tab labeled AQST Block of the Month.

BLOCK #1

Choose a dark fabric and a light one (your choice of colors).

CUT
Dark Fabric :  four 4" squares  and two 4 1/2" squares
Light Fabric: one 4" square and two 4 1/2" squares










Take a light 4 1/2" square and place it on top of a dark 4 1/2" square,  with right sides facing.  Do the same with the remaining 4 1/2" squares.  You should have two sets, with the light on top of the dark.

Draw a line from corner to corner on the light fabric and sew 1/4" on both sides of the line.  Do this for both sets.

Now cut on the drawn line.


 
This will give you two sets of half square triangles.




You should now have four 4" dark squares, one 4" light square and four half square triangles.

Okay, it's time to sew the blocks into rows. 






Row 1:  sew a half square triangle, with dark corner pointing down, to a dark square, dark fabrics meeting.  You will sew another half square triangle, turned opposite of the first one, to the dark square,so that the dark fabrics meet.

Row 2: sew a dark square to the light square.  Then sew another dark square to the light square.

Row 3:  Repeat row 1 but turn half square triangle, with dark corners pointing up.

Sew all three rows together, matching the seams.

 Now you can embellish it with ribbon, buttons or fabric yo-yos, being sure to leave room to stitch the next block to it.

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TODAY'S QUESTION

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

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MY RAINY DAY POEM

Rainy Day

Dark clouds roll in,

the wind blows, 

wild untamed thunder rolls.

The birds sing sweetly,

the frogs croak their song, 

calling for the elements to release their energy.

Dry arid land seeks a quenching of its thirst.

First one drop, then two,

a melodious rain does ensue, 

Nature soaking up every drop.

                                  Sonia R. Parham 10/10/11

Have a great Tuesday!!   

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

My answer to yesterday's question:  maybe chocolate.  :)

To All My Canadian Friends....

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Woooooo Pig! Sooie!

Bare with me as I give a shout out for Arkansas.....

Woooooo  Pig!  Sooie!

Woooooo  Pig!  Sooie!

Woooooo  Pig!  Sooie!

Razorbacks!!

Arkansas takes the victory against Auburn today, 38 - 14.   

Around a year or so ago, my husband asked me, "Hon, how come you can watch a Rugby game, but can't watch a football game?"   My answer was, I like Rugby better.  

But I realized that my man was possibly letting me know in his subtle way, that he would like to share the game of football with me.    So, I have tried to watch a little more football with him.   I have to tell you though, I tend to get aggravated at the game.  I won't go into it, any more than that, but I will say, if I get aggravated, I'll walk away and just check on the game from time to time.  :)

OKAY.... moving on....

I hope you have had a great day.  My day was a day of recouping and resting.  I did however, get a little bit done with my applique pieces and crocheting.   No pics to share at this time, though.

I woke this morning with thoughts of the "Block of the Month", I guess because it will be starting Monday evening.  I have a lot of work to do tomorrow afternoon.   

I will draw out the pattern, make the block and take a pic of it, to post, with instructions, on Monday.    The first block will be fairly simple and I plan to make most of them that way.    I don't want this first "Block of the Month" to be too much of a challenge, as we have the holidays coming up and are going to be very busy.  I hope you join in and share your blocks.  :)

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TODAY'S QUESTION

If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I know this has been short, but I still feel a little down, tired mostly.   I want to thank those of you, who have sent me kind words, uplifting me and I also want to thank you all for your inspiring blogs.   It seems when I'm a little down, spiritually or physically, there are always several of you that bring a smile to my face.  Thank you!

This puts me in mind of when the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he is with Silvanus and Timotheus.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. ~ 1Thesselonians 1:2

That's how I feel.  

Have a great weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

My answer to yesterday's question: pretty pictures my hubby took of butterflies on our marigolds.

It's been ages...

Hello all... it seems like it's been ages since I last blogged.  LOL

I know it's only been 5 days... but that is 4 days longer than normal.    I have just been wore out and kind of down... think I may be trying to come down with a bug or something.  I'm really trying not to, though.

My Internet service was down all day/night yesterday, and boy did I have a lot of emails... a bunch of them went to the trash bin or spam.

I plan to post the first Block of the Month on Monday, 10/10/11.    I hope you join in.  I think it will be fun to see the different blocks that each of you make.

I've been saving up used dryer sheets to use for some applique pieces I need to add to the quilt I've been working on.   I think I finally have enough to use. 

This is a great way to recycle and it makes applique easy.   

Here's what you do...

1. Iron you dryer sheet.  Do not iron directly on the dryer sheet, place the dryer sheet under a dishtowel, so that it won't melt or stick to your iron.
2. Once your dryer sheet is ironed, place it on top of the right side of your applique fabric.
3. Stitch with a 1/4" seam all the way around your applique shape.
4. Cut an opening in the middle of the dryer sheet, being careful not to cut your applique fabric.
5. Turn the piece inside out, so that the applique fabric is showing and the dryer sheet is on the bottom.  This will give you a clean, turned under edge.  Now you can stitch your applique piece to the project you're working on.

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WEEKLY RECIPE with a Bonus

My weekly recipe is a Crockpot Dump Cake, I made it today.   Last night, I made what I call fried apples, for my daughter.  She was wanting something for desert.    I think I like the fried apple desert better than the crockpot dump cake, though both were good.  I just liked the simpler one this week.  :)

 

 

Crockpot Dump Cake (see the recipe and more at the link below)

http://www.cookiemadness.net/2007/09/crockpot-dump-cake/

1 (21 oz) can of fruit pie filling (I used blueberry)

1 package of yellow or white cake mix

8 tablespoons of butter, cut up

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Rub crockpot with some of the butter. Pour in the pie filling.  Mix the dry cake mix with the remaining butter until it is crumbly, sprinkle over the pie filling.  Sprinkle the chopped pecans over the cake mix.  Cover and cook for 2-3 hours.    Serve warm, with whipped topping or very cold vanilla ice cream.

And the bonus.....

Fried Apples

2-3 green apples, peeled and sliced thinly

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons brown sugar

Dash of cinnamon (to taste)

Melt butter in non-stick fry pan, add peeled and thinly sliced apples and stir so that the slices are covered with butter, add the brown sugar and cinnamon.  Cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or until apples have softened.   Serve over vanilla ice cream.

 

 

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TODAY'S QUESTION

What was the highlight of your week?

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I leave you with a quote from my cute little Quilted Hearts book.

Wash what's dirty.

Water what is dry.

Heal what is wounded.

Warm what is cold.

Guide what goes off the road.

Love those who are least lovable

because they need love the most.

Always be a little kinder than necessary.

                                                   ~ James M. Barrie

God bless and keep you, 

Sonia

My answer to the last question: the thing in my past I would like to change, is all the years I wasted denying God.

Key Word for the Month...

Hello!  Hope your Sunday has been a blessed one.  :)

Yesterday, I said I would share pics of the reenactment at the Frontier's Day.  So here are the pics... it's a story of a female spy, giving Confederate secrets to the Union.  She receives the info from a Confederate Soldier.  Both are caught and are being hung for their treason to the Confederacy.   I knew several people in the reenactment and it was fun watching them perform.  :)

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TODAY'S QUESTION

What's one thing in the past, you would like to change?

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Looking forward in this month, busy is the key word.  :)    The block of the month will be starting soon.  I have a lap quilt or two to make and I need to finish the bigger quilt, I'm working on.  

How are you set for the month?   

I noticed the other day, that some of the autumn colors are coming in. The reds, oranges and yellows.  I hope we have more color, than I think we will, this year.    

One of the reasons I like autumn the best, is the beautiful colors that God paints the landscape with.  He paints the landscape year around, but I like the autumn colors the best.  :)

Thank you Father in heaven for the beauty You share with us!!

 

Well, that's it for now.   Here's wishing you a wonderful week ahead!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

My answer to yesterday's question: my Bible, a water filtration system, MREs, fire starter kit, compass/map

First Day of October...

Hello all!   October has already started.  Boy, time sure flies by.   

I had a great week, the Revival was awesome.   Last night wrapped the week up with 8 baptisms and 3 more new brother and sisters in Christ.    Though it was the last scheduled day of the revival at my church, I'm thinking there is no need of revival ending within me. I can continue to feel revival as I continue to focus on the presence of the Lord in my life.  :)

Today was Frontier's Day. 

I took lots of pics today, starting with my daughter playing the drum in the parade.



Saw some sweet rides...

 

I also got to help judge the costumes. 

There were horse draw wagons

I found tin pumpkins for sale too.


And this little cutie rode by in her Radio Flyer and I couldn't help but take a pic.  

I also watched a reenactment of a hanging, way back in the day.  I will post pics of it tomorrow.

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WEEKLY RECIPE

Easy Cheesy Chicken 1 
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Cheesy-Chicken-I/Detail.aspx#  

6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 (10-75 ounce) can condensed cream of cheddar cheese soup
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
I also added 1/2 green pepper chopped and 1/2 onion chopped 

Rinse chicken and pat dry.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  Place chicken and chopped pepper and onion in slow cooker.   In a medium bowl, mix together the cream of chicken, mushroom and cheddar soups.  Pour over the chicken, peppers and onions.    Cook on low for 6-8 hours.  Stir in sour cream just before serving.    Serve over rice or pasta. 

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TODAY'S QUESTION

If you were stranded in the wilderness, what five things would you want to have with you?

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Well y'all I'm going to sign off.  I have a headache coming on and am wore out for the awesome week and today.     Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

My answer to the last question: my earliest childhood memory, in Florida, backyard, standing on a sand bucket and sticking my arm in the ringers of the washing machine, while it was on.   I was three.