Pausing for Awhile

Needing to put blogging on pause for awhile. I may post here and there when I'm thinking about something besides packing and moving. With all that's going on, I need my evenings for the quieter things that I'm unable to get to during the day. I do hope you'll linger here at Homeward, though, and maybe find some encouragement as you look upward and homeward.

Until later...

Painting ~ Interior with a Woman, Carl Vilhelm Holsoe 1863-1935
Wiki Commons public domain

Painting ~ Nostalgia, Clement Micarelli

Sunday Ponderings ~ Rest

Because God made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until we rest in Him.

~ St.Augustine

Painting ~ Portrait of a Girl in Red, Pierre Auguste Renoir 1841-1919
Wiki Gallery public domain

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Today I join others at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, a weekly journal page that focuses on simple thoughts and simple living. My leads are somewhat similar to others in the group, but somewhat different as well. 

Outside my window... 
Impatiens overtaking the sidewalk by the front door.

In the Garden... 

I wondered when I planted these impatiens in the spring if they would ever spread. Took them so long, but if they keep going, we'll have to jump over them!

 

 Around the house....

I packed up the things from the buffet this week for moving. I guess I didn't realize how much it held. I packed four boxes to take, and two boxes to donate. 

This week's find... 

A bat in our bedroom! After an hour or so My Beloved coaxed it outside. We looked online to see how to get rid of it and found some interesting facts about bats. But to me, snakes and mice and bats are in the same category. EEK!!  Sorry, I didn't get a picture of it flying around. I was too busy screaming and then hiding in the closet.

Looking forward to...

Taking down the wallpaper in the kitchen. Really?! Yes, it means another step forward to getting the house ready to put on the market.

From the Kitchen...  

I made this pasta salad for lunch today and shared it with a neighbor friend. I've taken it to a get-together, too, and just tossed in more of the ingredients. Sharing the recipe with you, although I can't remember where I got it. Maybe Taste of Home. Just be aware that it needs to marinate a few hours. I make it the night before.

Italian Pasta Salad

1 cup uncooked spiral pasta (I used tri-color)

1-1/2 or so cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

½ cup reduced fat or fat-free Italian salad dressing

¼ cup sweet red pepper, chopped

¼ cup green pepper, chopped

3 tbsp green onion, thinly sliced

½ cup lite mayo (I used olive oil reduced fat)

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup cubed cheese, cut into about ¼-inch cubes (I used mozzarella, but use your fav)

1 can (2 oz) sliced ripe olives, drained

1.  Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse with cold water and drain. Place in large bowl.

2.  Add tomatoes, mushrooms, salad dressing, peppers, and onion.

3.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

4.  In a small bowl:

            * combine mayo and Parmesan cheese;

            * stir cubed cheese and olives into mayo mixture

5.  Gently fold into the pasta mixture.

6.  Chill until served.  Serves 8.

 

The fruit of my hands …  

I finished the kaleidoscope quilt top yesterday that I'm making for a friend. This is the largest one I've made (65 x 89). I blogged about it yesterday.
 

Hoping… 

That the quilt shop will do a good job with the quilting. This will be the first time I've had someone else do the quilting, but this is the first time I've made this size quilt, too, and I don't think I can give it the attention it needs right now. Wanting to have it finished to give my friend before we move.

Reading....  

The Dash Diet by Thomas J. Moore, MD

I'm glad to learn that I pretty much already do much of what it says, so I'm reading it mostly for the recipes. It was clearanced at BAM for just $3.00 for the hardback. It's online for $19.96. What a deal!

Wondering...
It seems odd to me that when a white policeman kills a black, the media cries race, but when a black kills a white policeman, not so. Just sayin'.

Thankful...    
For policeman who put their lives on the line just by putting on their uniforms.  

Thinking... 

That the young man who is helping My Beloved work in the garage is very compassionate toward mankind. He went to a far land to fight extremists because of the atrocities they are doing to the people who live there. He said everyone was sharing whatever they had to help each other, and that he wished he had something to give them. He did have something, and he gave it--himself.  

A quote to share....

Even if you think the Big Bang created the stars, don't you wonder who sent the flowers? ~Robert Brault

 

I do hope you know the One who sent the flowers...and created the stars.
Take care, dear one.
Until next time. 

You may enjoy reading what some other simple women are saying and doing these days here. 

From the Sewing Room ~ Twilight Kaleidoscope Quilt

I finished the Twilight Kaleidoscope Quilt top today. Woo Hoo!! Going to take it to the quilt shop next week for quilting. This is the largest quilt I've made (63 x 89), and I don't think I'm up to trying to quilt it on my home machine right now. Don't have the time with getting ready to move to slow down and give it a go. This is the first quilting that I've had someone else do, so I'm hoping I like the results.

The Twilight Kaleidoscope Quilt is from the Quilted Kaleidoscopes Craftsy class taught by Marilyn Foreman. Love those Craftsy classes! I've made a few octagon kaleidoscope throw/baby/tablerunner quilts, but had not been very interested in four patch kaleidoscopes until I saw Marilyn's class on Craftsy. I thought her Twilight Kaleidoscopes was beautiful and the kaleidoscopes looked so much easier and took less fabric. And I love the way she has them set into the quilt.

I had been wanting to make a quilt for a friend before I move, and I thought this would be the one. So I had her choose from some large prints in my stash for the main fabric, and then I added other fabrics to bring it all together. She likes a red/black combo, so I used black as the background and red as the inner border. The backing is the same fabric as the inner border. If I do another quilt like this, though, I think I'll have each star block to be a different color. I chose to do three red star blocks because I wanted to highlight red, but I think more variety might have been a better choice since I added the red border and red backing.

Here are the fabrics that I used, mostly from my stash. I did purchase the wide red backing, so I didn't have to piece it. I cut some from it for the inner border. This is an after photo, and I didn't have much of the large floral left. It was a good choice for the kaleidoscopes.

 A couple more pictures.

My friend and I have been walking partners for several years, trying to connect with each other each week or so. I call it our walk/talk time, as we point one another Upward and Homeward. We've been friends for about 25 years. I'll truly miss those walks and talks with her.

I hope you have someone, too, who points you Upward and Homeward.

Linking up with Amanda Jean at crazymomquilts.com for Finish It Up Friday. If you're into sewing or quilting, head on over there for lots of wonderful inspiration!

If you've stopped by from Amanda Jean's, I do hope you'll linger awhile here at Homeward. 

Unitil next time!

No Better News

I'm continuing to read Christ Our Mediator by C.J. Mahaney. Wanting to share my evening read with you. Wonderful thoughts to ponder before sleep.

And what does Christ's death mean for us--for all who turn from their sins and trust in this unique mediator?

First, we have peace with God--the actual, objective reality of peace with Him, because His holy hostility against us has been spent against Christ instead.

Second, we no longer face condemnation from God when our life on this earth is over. Every believer in Christ can know that the moment we pass from this world and stand before God the righteous judge, the verdict to be announced in our case will be "not guilty," by reason of the righteousness of Christ.

With full assurance we can anticipate and even experience that verdict right now. Our lives here and now are transformed as we live today in the joyful light of that day. We live today free from the fear of wrath on that future date.

What amazing grace! There simply isn't greater news we could give to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

I do hope you have trusted this unique mediator. If you'd like to learn more, here's a great place to start. Dig deeper, dear one, and you'll discover peace beyond measure.

Crossing Paths Again

I was talking with a friend recently about our upcoming move, and she commented that I probably would miss running into friends while out and about shopping and such. Yes, that I will miss. A friend that I hadn't seen for several years came into the restaurant where we were eating on Sunday. It was so good to catch up with how things are going with her and then hug goodbye. Then we ran into one of My Beloved's friends yesterday, and they talked for awhile.

Today a friend that I haven't seen for many, many years crossed my path at the grocery store. I was ever so glad that I didn't go shopping yesterday as is my usual routine. I would have missed a wonderful, timely blessing. 

She has been taking care of her 95-year-old mother who has had Alzheimer's for eleven years, staying at her mother's home and keeping it up for her since it was familiar to her, tending to her flowers, planting some zucchini, keeping things as best she can as her mother knew them. My friend has had shoulder replacements and has difficulty moving one arm, so her son helps with getting his grandmother in and out of bed and tending to some basic needs, while his little 3-year-old plays and brings joy to Great-Grandma, sitting on her lap and talking to her. Before caring for her mother, my friend had taken care of her father for three years before he passed on. Before that she and her husband had brought someone into their own home that they had met while camping and was caregiver to her, and before that they had brought a friend of their son's into their home and had taken care of him for three years. Sad to say, though, her adult daughter's life is a mess. She has a lot that could depress her.

But in the midst of it all, my long-time friend is a joy-filled woman. She says that some people tell her that she should put her mother in a care home. "What?!" she says, "And miss all of the love and joy I've had over these years with her? Memories I will cherish forever?!" We had a wonderful conversation about God's abundant grace and how His mercies are new every morning. Grace and mercy that she may never have known except for the difficulties and challenges of life. His grace is truly sufficient. And His love abounds.

Father God knew that my friend and I needed that conversation today. He planned it that way...for both of us, for our paths to cross once again. For her, because she doesn't get out much to talk to people. For me, because I was discouraged after listening to My Beloved's friend yesterday talk about all he is doing--writing books, speaking several times a week in different locations, visiting in nursing homes, overseeing a chaplains' group, and how so many people are so glad that he's doing what he's doing. And on and on. I came away from that conversation feeling like I wasn't doing much of anything that really mattered. Does anyone even read my little blog posts?

Then I look up today across the rows of produce, and there's my friend from long ago. And God uses that encounter to remind me that there are a gazillion ways to do good and to bring Him glory. And that what I do does matter....to Him and to others.

Long-time friends pick up where they left off. So we hugged goodbye and said that we were so glad we ran into each other today, that both of us needed that conversation, and that if we don't see one another again here, we'll look for each other up there. And please give your mama a hug for me.

So, dear one, keep looking upward and homeward, where blessings abound and God's mercies are new every morning. And remember that what you are doing today matters. A lot.

Painting ~ The Day's Catch, Daniel Ridgway Knight 1839-1924
Wiki Commons public domain

Just A Little List

Domesticity - devoted to home duties and pleasures

My usual grocery day is today, but I didn't get there, so plan to go tomorrow. As we've been clearing things out getting ready to move, I was going through old planners and came across some unused shopping list pages. I tried using one last week, but it just didn't work for the way my mind works while I'm grocery shopping. 

I drafted my own a few minutes ago, and just thought I'd take a few minutes to share it with you before I settle down for the evening and do a little reading. With this list I can have all my needs categorized for the same areas and won't be walking back and forth getting things I missed. 

Testing it out tomorrow, and I think I'll make it through in record time!

Poster Print ~ Daisy by Kate Mawdsley

Knock! Knock! Koinonia Calling!

Still thinking about a brief conversation before church this evening that I had with the woman sitting behind me. She asked about our move, and we got to talking about fixing up our houses. She's a widow and mentioned that she would like to use her home for Bible studies during the week. She says she's not a teacher, but she would love to have people in and share hospitality.

Whoa! Knock! knock! Why isn't the church hearing this lady's desire to exercise her spiritual gift of hospitality, to share her home in such a meaningful way? I'd be the first to sign up! There are three small group studies going on that meet at our church during the week, and I've attended one of them, but meeting in the home opens up entirely new dynamics for deeper level relationships that just don''t happen at the church house. I've been to both over the years, and there's no comparison to those that meet in the homes. None.

This is another reason that I'm looking forward to our move. We've already found a church in our new location that has small group gatherings that meet in homes throughout the area during the week. They discuss the pastor's message from the previous Sunday, talking about how to live out the truths of Scripture as they build true relationships with one another. They call them K-groups. 'K' is for koinonia in the Greek, true fellowship. Looking forward to it!

I do hope that this dear lady is given the opportunity of sharing her home in such a meaningful and life-changing way. All would surely share in the blessing.

Painting ~ The Visitor, Arthur Hopkins 1848-1930
Wiki Commons public domain

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Today I join others at The Simple Woman’s Daybook, a weekly journal page that focuses on simple thoughts and simple living. My leads are somewhat similar to others in the group, but somewhat different as well.
 

Outside my window...

A fresh mowed lawn on a beautifully sunny, not-too-humid day. 

Thinking... 

That this would be good evening for a walk in the neighborhood if folks wouldn't let their dogs run loose. It's nice to greet people and their leashed doggies as you pass on a walk, but I don't like loose ones barking at my ankles. Bad dog.

Thankful... 
For neighbors who have invisible fences for their dogs. Banks is our neighbor's dog who greets us whenever we come home. (They named him Banks because they like to go to the Outer Banks on vacation. Gotta wonder about names sometimes.) He sits at the property line by his driveway for us to give him a Milkbone, his daily treat. :-) Good dog. 

In the Garden...  
Just pulling out weeds here and there as I pass by. Need to cut back the hosta. I've never been able to keep it looking nice, and it's being overtaken by a couple of supposedly dwarf mugo pines, anyway. Sure won't have any in our next yard. 

Around the house....
My Beloved is still clearing out the garage, but I moved inside and stripped the wallpaper in the living room. It took me three days! Now the dining and living rooms are ready for a redo to get the house ready for the market. (I'm NEVER EVER going to have wallpaper again!)

From the Kitchen...  
Fixed a new recipe yesterday. Fixed the same meal the day before. The first day I forgot to plug in the crock pot and began to wonder in the afternoon why I didn't smell a wonderful aroma simmering away. So I had to throw that out, but, thankfully, had enough of the same ingredients to try again. The recipe is from Fix It and Foget It, and is an easy slow cooker meal. Sharing it with you today. The recipe is for 2 servings, so add more ingredients if you have more than two to fix for. 

Crockpot Chicken and Vegetables

2 medium potatoes, quartered (I used 4 red potatoes)

2-3 carrots, sliced (I used baby carrots, about half of a small bag)

2 frozen chicken breasts, or 2 frozen drumstick/thigh pieces (I used thighs. If they aren't frozen, adjust the cooking time.)

salt to taste

pepper to taste

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1-2 cups shredded cabbage (I shredded only slightly so as to have larger pieces and only used 1 cup)

16-oz. can chicken broth (I used 14 oz.)

1. Place potatoes ad carrot i slow cooker. Layer chicken on top. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion, and garlic. Top with cabbage. Carefully pour chicken broth around edges.

2. Cover. Cook on Low 8-9 hours. (Adjust time if chicken isn't frozen)

 

This week's find...

A beautiful little glass dish at a thrift shop. Trying not to bring much of anything else into the house these days with packing up and all, but this little treasure was much too cute to leave on the shelf. I had actually gone into the shop to look for children's books when I took a load of things there from clearing out, and that little dish called out to me as I passed by. Just had to give it a home!

Looking forward to...

Going thrifting (junking as it's fondly called these days) with Mom when we get moved. She and I both love to find pretty little dishes, and our houses will be within walking distance from each other. :-)

Hoping…

To be moved by Thanksgiving.

The fruit of my hands …  
Re-fitted a couple of pillow cases for My Beloved. Posted about it yesterday.

 








Reading.... 
Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
It's a children's book first published in 1956, a Newbery Medal winner--one of those books when children had time to be children and filled with character traits that we all want ours to emulate. It's a book that I picked up at a thrift shop to have for the grands when they come to visit. I like to preview the books before they read them, and I've been especially looking for hardback books. This is just a scholastic paperback, but I'm glad it's still in print.

Wondering...
What might have happened to this huge moth. It was lying on our sidewalk one morning this week looking like this all day. I thought it might fly away, but it didn't. :-/

A quote to share....
"Like sand mixing with iron, an edifice that blends elements of Bible truth with worldliness will not adhere but come apart. As in the church so in the heart." 
~ Andree Seu Peterson, Unstable Elements: How persons and institutions create explosive situations for themselves, World Magazine 

You may enjoy reading what some other simple women are saying and doing these days here. 

I do hope you are doing well yourself.
Take care, dear one.

From the Sewing Room ~ Re-fitted Pillow Cases

With all the work going on this week getting the house in shape to put on the market, there's not been much time for being in my sewing room. But I did take some time to make a couple of pillow cases a better fit for My Beloved's pillow, which is one of those smaller contoured foam ones. The pillow cases are always wrinkling and twisting around on his pillow during the night. 

Thought I'd show you how I fixed that problem in case you or someone you love has a love/hate relationship with a pillow.

Here's a before photo of the pillow in the pillowcase. Notice all the extra fabric on the right side. That's how it starts out after the bed is made, but it sure doesn't stay that way during the night!























 This is about how it looks in the morning. Not really helpful for a good's night's sleep.

So, I......

Turned the pillowcase inside out and measured how much of an extra seam allowance to make.

For his pillow, I made an additional 4-inch seam down the side.

Then I sewed about 1/4-inch all around the hemmed opening for a nice finish, stitching down that extra seam allowance as I went. You could cut off the extra seam allowance, if you want instead, or use your serger, but I just left it and stitched it down at the hem.

And now the pillow fits nice and snug in the pillow case. No more twisting and wrinkling. I modified two pillowcases, and I think the next time I'll shorten it a bit as well.

A little TLC for My Beloved!

Linking up today with Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday.  You might want to head on over and get some inspiration from what some other gals have finished up!