STRESSED ... spelled backwards is Desserts ... Our Daily Bread

 

 

 

Do you ever find yourself "STRESSED" ? That's like asking do you ever find your Hungry Or Tired .. As hunger and tiredness comes naturally to the body it seems for generations "Stress" seems to be part of our lives too. It's almost or should I say for some become a natural part of our everyday living .

 

 

 

 

 

I can attest to feeling stress on a daily basis. Stressed to get orders out on time, stressed to provide each client we have with an order they will love, stressed that housework is not getting done, stressed to save money, STRESSED .. it seems over any little thing that I can possibly turn into stress. You see it comes naturally to me .. I was raised by two people that taught me how to stress .. A dad with an A type personality and a mom that worked against the world to provide us with a Donna Reed home .. thinking she had to be lovely and perfect and have a perfect home all the time.

 

Thankfully Mom recognized later in life that having a perfect home and life was a fairy tale and that the normal stress of a normal life without adding the perfection of  a Donna Reed life was more than enough in an of itself.

 

Dad well he's changed ALOT over the years .. but I think his DNA just has a stress button that is always pressed no matter what. I must admit he tries not to stress but he still all these years later .. even retired without a job to call stress ..still stresses over the little things in life and even more over the big things. But he's much better than he was.

 

I think we all have stress in our life .. some less and some more and I think we all can agree we wish the stress would just be gone.

 

I think stress can be self induced many times .. we think about things and play scenarios in our heads that we "THINK" Could happen ... Or we enter situations with black or negative thinking ..

 

And then other times stress finds us. Rather it be through a loved one that is ill, a car that you need for commuting that just broke down and you don't have the finances to fix it, so it goes on the credit card with the list of other stresses adding up on it, The teenage child that has found the worlds ways more important than how they were raised and is rebelling, A friendship that is suffering and on an on.. STRESS just seems to creep in and in some instances RUN into our lives ...  and starts Running our lives. There's probably a song out there titled " Livin' on Love" ..but it seems instead we are all "Livin' on Stress" when in fact we should be "Livin on the the Love of the Lord"

 

 

So what does the Bible say about "STRESS"

 

 

Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it (Philippians 4:6-7,

 

 

I think the first line do not Worry about Anything is probably the biggest hurdle we all face. How do we not Worry about anything. Is  that like saying .." have an oh well who cares attitude about life" .. just toss it all to the wind and where it all falls there it will be and who am I to care ?

 

I don't think so.  I'm the first to admit I have not conquered Stress or Worry. But with all that's in me each day I do my best for that day .. to do what the next portion of the scripture shares .. " And when you Pray always give thanks" ... First I pray... and then I give thanks.  Going to God in prayer over any stress or worry is the first thing we should always do .. He knows our hearts and our needs and all he wants us to do is come to him and ask.  And he want us to be thankful for all things the good and the bad.

 

How easy is it to be thankful for all the good things in life when as we say "Things are going Right." But how much more does it take to be thankful for what we call the "Bad things in life " ???

I've been through some really rough patches in life .. One time in life that I will always remember that is etched in my mind and on  my heart forever .. it was a dark time when I seriously felt nothing good would ever happen again and was God really there.  I didn't give up on God ..and you know what he never gave up on me .. for 2 Years .. I prayed and Gave thanks for everything and I mean everything .. and I asked God to teach me whatever life lessons I needed to learn through this season of life .. And I can say without question  I found a peace during that time and in the end .. Life came out much better than I could have ever imagined. His gifts that were awaiting me on the other side of that huge mountain I had to climb ... "Were so worth it all"  I still thank him to this day for that 2 year period of what I call darkness in my life.  So Praying and Constantly all the day Long finding everything you can to Thank the Lord for, something as simple as "lord thank you for the glass of water I'm drinking"..and just as the scripture says next " And God's Peace will keep your heart's and Minds" ..  If not for prayer and thanksgiving I look back on that time and wonder if I would not have gone crazy .. his peace truly kept my heart and mind sane to endure the mountain I had t climb.

 

So yes we are going to experience stress in our lives  ..but it's what we do to combat the stress and to diminish it, is what counts ..

 

Pray and Give Thanks

 

Lord You know my life inside out .. you know the stress that I create and the stress that creeps into my life.. Please help me to overcome these stresses and help me to not allow them to overtake my mind and my life. You are my Peace in times of trouble .. teach me the lessons you want me to learn and help me grow in wisdom. Give me the courage to be Thankful for all things .. in your Name Amen

 

 

I am ever so thankful .. for so many things in life.. the roof over my head, an indoor bathroom, running water, food in my refrigerator and pantry, money to pay bills, a car to get us where we need to go, my health, my family, my work, friends, my dog,  and so much more ...

 

Can you make a list of things you are thankful for ..??? and Thank the Lord all the day long for those and any others that come to mind .. Thank him over and over and over ..never quit being thankful. And thank him for  the stresses too .. we can learn from those.

 

If you are feeling STRESSED or  STRESS  has found you .. sit down and have some DESSERT ...

 

 Some Prayer and Thankfulness are a like sweet honey to the soul and will fill you up with his peace of mind and heart

 ..

And of course if you're like me I'll add a few cookies in right after ..

 

Wising you all a beautiful day and week ahead .

 

 

 

It's a Girl .. No it's a Boy .... and I WON .. Yep I'm a winner !

 

~ Welcome Baby ~

 

 

What a joy it is to have worked on this sweet Custom Order for a sweet Client of ours.

 

I must admit .. I love working on custom orders.

 

It's a nice change to make something a little different and something with a personal sentiment.

 

This week I worked on a custom Burlap Runner .. for an upcoming Baby Shower.

 

A way to sweetly welcome a  Baby on the way !

 

 

 

Usually I display our runners on a cute little shabby white table I have ... but this week the clothesline was already in place and I thought it would be fun to show it hung.

 

 

We have another gal that buys customized runners in customized sizes and she uses them for window Valances... What a Great Idea ! It's funny because the runners get purchased for a number of uses .. from banners to Pillow Covers on the bed, blanket chest runners, and more.

 

So I Hung this one up ..and it looks great .. ! I can just imagine this one hung in Babies room above a window or above the crib ! Now wouldn't that be ever so adorable....

 

I love that they chose the white with yellow gingham ruffles  .. Yellow is a favorite color of mine. I always say "It's a Happy Color" .. and it makes me feel happy and refreshed when I'm in a room of yellow.

 

In fact Abbey and I have been working in our Kitchen .. 2 weekends back we took all the décor out ..and started over ..we put many things back but just in a new way .. we have an old pair of hanging scales which were over a counter and now are hung in the window that looks out over the backyard ..and our kitchen is now headed for a dressing of yellow gingham. Hopefully this weekend we will get a little time carved out to make some yellow gingham curtains for the window .. such a refreshing, clean and happy feeling they will emanate. I can't wait !

 

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And Yep I won, I can't believe I'm a winner !

 

I Won the free giveaway a few weeks back at Wayside Treasures !

 

 

She was giving away these adorable Frozen food storage boxes "Vintage Cuteness" to the nth degree ! ..

 

They came this week in the mail .. and Sandi wrapped them so sweetly in Tissue and ribbon and included a sweet card with a recipe on it..

 

I've been blogging for 4 years now and I can't say I have entered a lot of giveaways but some and this is the first time I have won ... how exciting !

 

Thanks so much Sandi ... what a pleasure your package was when it arrived this week !

 

 

 

Painting With Christie Repasy....

 

Well, Hello Y'all..

 

I can't believe over a week has passed since I blogged. Time just flys by when your having such a great time..

 

This week has been filled with lots of learning and busy hands ..

 

We started out Monday with our first class on our new sewing machine. It was pretty basic but very helpful in learning all the buttons and levers and how to clean the machine properly which is always a help because our sewing machine will surely need cleaning quite often..

 

And we ended our week on a fun note .,..

 

Abbey and I signed up for the beginners Rose Painting Class which we attended yesterday .. with 5 other lovely ladies....

 

Patty, Jill, Sylvia, Kathy, and Janice.

(not all pictd)

 

 

 

Christie Taught us some basic thinking on Painting .. and got us settled in at our tables with our beginning materials and within an hour we had brushes in hand and we're diving in. Not without a little reservation though. Although None of us will ever paint like Christie  as She has amassed a great many years of knowledge, and study and has an amazing gift for being able to see something and paint it to reflect her style which has become so iconic. But I think we all hoped to paint something that reflected the beauty of her paintings...

 

 

(Abbey Christie & Me (sara))

 

We all stopped for a Potluck Lunch break .. Everyone brought a little something to nibble on while we chatted and enjoyed each other's company ..

 (Sylvia & Christie)

Then we dove back in to painting after lunch as Christie walked us through more steps of painting the rose and helped us each individually with mixing our paints to achieve the color we wanted .. adding in the proper colors in the right places and the right lines in the right places so the Rose came out looking like a rose.



There Were 5 of us taking the beginning Rose Class ..and 2 other's that were back for their 2nd or 3rd Classes.. .. Patty worked on the Chicken and Hollyhocks Painting that Christie just recently released as part of her new Farmhouse Collection ... HERE

And

Jill Worked on a Rose Spray that can be seen in one of the images below.





The class was such a pleasure ..and so enjoyable !

 

We all have a little piece of Christies knowledge, and heart for the love of painting after taking her class.

 

We wrapped everything up in the late afternoon .. with everyone taking the beginning rose class finishing their roses. 

 

 

 

 

Each Rose turned out so differently from the next.  Each of us see Shape and Color so differently and we each have a much different touch with the brush ..

 

But I think for Beginners we all did an excellent job !

 

Jill's rose spray which is more advanced is the second in from the right .. she did a beautiful job !

 

Christie gave the option of a light blue or green for the backgrounds .. being a farm girl .. I of course had to ask if I could do a brown background .. and she was so kind to allow Abbey and I to make our backgrounds in a beautiful taupey brown .. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much Christie ... for a wonderful class .. and it was such a delight and pleasure to meet all the other gals that took the class with us !

 

I've so enjoyed taking classes and learning this week ..I can't wait to do it again !

 

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If you would like to attend one of Christies Classes you can do so by e-mailing her.

crepasy@christierepasy.com

 

Or to purchase her art .. visit her website HERE

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Things our Mother Taught US.. A little Laugh for the weekend ..!

 

 

 

Happy Friday to You all ...!

 

I hope you had a beautiful 4th of July Yesterday and are enjoying a lovely beginning to the weekend ..

 

 

Yesterday Morning Abbey was on Pinterest and she read this so so funny

 

"Things Our Mother Taught Us "

 

See if any of these applied to you as a kid !

 

Enjoy !

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 Hope this put a smile on your face and gave you a good chuckle !

I can't say my Mother taught me all 21 of these things but a few for sure ..but  I knew kids that grew up learning all 21 of these and I'm sure they could have added to the list LOL !

I do remember Learning Medical Science... being told not to cross my eyes or they would stick ..

I also learned Stamina over a cold plate of food at the dinner table that I didn't like and wouldn't eat .. Thank goodness for brothers ...as mine snuck back and ate my food when no one was looking at least on one occasion for me.

My Mother taught me other fun things .. Like the day she decided to make vegetable stew for us and my brother and his wife. It had been a cold rainy winter and my brother had been out of work so she wanted to take them a big pot of stew but my sis-in-law didn't care for corn .. So mom stood over the pot on the stove and tried to figure how to add the corn in without getting it in the portion destined for my brother's house .. Her deduction was that she would just put 1/2 a can of corn in the pot....... and it wouldn't be in their half .. ....LOL !!!  Mom has had some doozies over the years .. and that's what makes her mom .. Lots of good Memories and stories to tell ..

So did you learn any of these or any others we can add to the list ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

America America ... God Shed his Grace on Thee

In Celebration of Independence Day ..

 

We remember how and what our Countries Foundation was built on ..

 

Wishing everyone a Very Happy 4th of July.

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, in the United States  commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

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The Declaration of Independence:

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage VS New .. Sewing to a New Tune ...

 

Goodbye 1970's ... Hello 2013 !!!

Last weekend I said goodbye to sewing as I have known it for the last 5 years. My sweet little 1970's " Sir King James" Sewing Machine just wasn't working properly. In the previous months I had been having trouble with it working correctly and had taken it to a local repair shop only to have it returned to me telling me there was not a thing wrong with it. I was a bit dismayed to hear that diagnosis as the upper tension had to be set on a 2 to work and while sewing the upper tension would tighten and loosen all on it's own ..I had thread breakage galore which wasn't normal and lastly it was making the most terrible clanking noise .. So bad that it was almost impossible to sit behind it and sew without wanting a pair of ear plugs.

I had purchased the machine at an estate sale 5 years ago for just $18- ... it was in beautiful working order so quiet and sewed beautifully. Although I must say I had nothing to compare it to except Mom's 1960's machine and I liked it a whole lot better than hers !

Well I could stand the problems no longer and opted to try a new sewing machine fix it shop .. This time they turned it on tried sewing on it and were aghast that I had been told there was nothing wrong with it. I felt a sigh of relief wash over me .. finally someone else was confirming what I knew and I felt like now I would get some help.

My help came in the form of pure honesty ..I was told they could fix it .. most likely it was abent rod or a gear that was no good etc ... but the cost was really not worth it . I have to admit I hesitated because all I have ever heard is how great the vintage machines are with their metal gears, rods, and heads compared to newer made machines with all plastic parts that break easily over time.

I was in good hands though at my new found shop .. they told me all the pros and cons of old machines and new machines and the difference between the brand they offered and other which I pretty much knew and were more than willing to do the work to get my little "Sir King James" back on the road and working again ..but they are also a dealer for Janome Sewing Machines .. and they gave me a tour of the machines and showed me how the machines worked... and so on. We started out looking at the Janome Magnolia .. now how befitting was that with our "Sweet Magnolias Farm" name ! But alas we decided on a different model ..because of the amount of sewing I do and felt it would be a better fit for long term use plus it had a few extra's that appealed to me.

So Here's the thing I came home literally petrified of my new machine. Going from a  basic machine with manual dials and the little R for reverse button to now a completely computerized machine and let's just say this wasn't $18- and I was terrified of breaking it ...

I placed it on my sewing table ... and for the first evening walked by it and wondered how I would even begin to learn how to use it ...

By the next morning I was ready to jump in and figure it out .. Abbey and I read the entire manual together and Voila .. I was up and running again .. and "Oh My Heavens" ... I'm so loving this modern 2013 machine .. This girl isn't going back to vintage anytime soon !


Don't get me wrong .. I still think vintage machines are wonderful .. but I think they have their place in the sewing world .. depending on what type of sewing and how much you are doing ..then there can be I think a point you have to look at New Vs Vintage ..and what best fits you.

So Here's my New Machine ...

I love that it has simplicity in the computerized interface. Not an over abundance of buttons ..and everything is really simple to use once you read the manual it isn't so overwhelming and becomes so simplified you wonder why you were so afraid of it ..LOL !

I came home the day I purchased it hoping I was given a fair deal on it .. and I was ..Plus the shop through it a wonderful Ruffler .. Free Thread...  and 3 ~ 2 Hour Classes that will teach me how to use it more in depth. It comes with a whole slew of feet ..that I'm actually looking forward to using. Plus .. this machine is for heavy duty sewing ..Long hours and it sews through many thicknesses which is a biggie for me. I have already sewn several orders and a few new items I am getting ready to list in the shop ..and I couldn't be more thrilled with how everything looks and how well it sews .

. No Reverse needed .. it self locks the stitch by just pushing a button ..You no longer need to turn the wheel in order to place the needle in the fabric to begin sewing .. by the simple press of a button the needle drops into place .. Sigh "I'm in heaven" .. Oh and did I mention that the bobbin winder has it's own motor and winds the thread onto the bobbin with pure perfection and in just a few seconds.

This machine even has an automatic thread cutter .. no scissors needed when sewing .. and top loading bobbin with a see through plate so you know when the bobbin thread is coming to an end .. Sigh .. I could go on about so many things I already love about it .. !!!

Plus I can't be happier that it has really great reviews everywhere I go online.

So if you're in the market for a sewing machine Janome seems to me to be the machine . It has a metal head and parts inside .. I will say it isn't a lightweight machine .. but that's o.k. with me I'm not planning on traveling with it .. and the simpler less expensive Janome machines for those who sew periodically are equally  as good and also have some truly fabulous options on them as well ..I would definitely have went with the Magnolia if I didn't put the machine through hours and hours of sewing and rigorous thicknesses of material.

Well I'm off to sew ...

I'll talk to you all in a few days ...