A LITTLE BIT OF FILIGREE FROM NATURE AND MY SEWING ROOM

HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME...Eccl. 3:11

I just wanted to share a few pictures with you.The first few are my sewing room from other angles. I promised to continue to share my sewing room with you! Sewing has been a Titus 2 endeavor for me for years. Once I learned to sew it helped me economize and clothe the family with unique things that would have been too expensive to seek out in the stores! The yellow heart-shaped chair was a garage sale find that I've treasured for years! The knitted lace throw on the chair was a gift from the lady that taught me to knit years ago. It was in blocks and I sewed it together. I called her Aunt Tessie and she's responsible for much of my interest in needlework. She also taught me to tat!

Above the yellow chair is a very old "waist." That is what ladie's blouses were first called at the turn of the century. This one is ornate indeed! Hanging next to it is a hat I decorated. The tall chest of drawers belonged to my dad as a boy. Sitting on it are several old needlework items, boxes of thread, patterns, and darning cotton in original boxes. The tall skinny cupboard with the yellow "yoke" hanging above it was a gift from my husband. We bought this unusual cupboard at a benefit auction. I use it to house my extensive collection of thread. Each drawer houses a particular color grouping

Another view shows my "second sewing machine," which is currently out of commission! Next to it is my fabric cupboard. The other low dresser you see was a gift from Clint's mom. My mom refinished it and it houses all my patterns. Sitting on top is a picture of my grandma at 16, a picture of her at 4 years old in 1904, and a couple of pictures of me. The black hats on the wall are antiques.

I hope you enjoyed sharing one of my favorite getaway rooms. No new green dress progress to report. We are busy getting ready to head out for our annual pilgrimage to Iowa tomorrow. Clint will plan to hunt with friends. It's a really special time for him. I'll visit friends while there and do some needlework and shopping. I have a friend I graduated with who lives only a few miles from where we stay. She and I plan to can carrots while I'm there. I am taking her a bag of "gleaned" carrots from the Michigan fields. Last year she canned several and thought they were wonderful!

The last picture is of our woods this morning as the moon drifted behind the trees. I love the way the "filigree" of the tree branches was highlighted by the moon's glow. It reminded me of the verse I posted. Even in the winter, the woods and all of nature have a certain beauty. Enjoy God's creation today! It is truly beautiful! Blessings, LORI

BLESSED BREADMAKING!

BLESSED SHALL BE YOUR BASKET AND YOUR KNEADING BOWL Deuteronomy 28:5"She was putting the finishing touches on a green salad when the oven timer went off, alerting her that the dinner rolls were done. She opened the oven door and peered in at the pans of crusty, golden buns looking like amber bubbles, their beckoning aroma wafting through the cherry kitchen. She removed the pans from the oven and set them on the counter to cool. She rubbed a generous portion of butter over the tops and let its golden sweetness drip down over their sides." from "The Fields of May"

How are you doing today? I guess you can easily see how I spent my day! Of course, that wasn't all. The breadmaking occurred between laundry, interneting, and cleaning. These rolls are for our Thanksgiving celebration. I'll freeze them until our get-together on Saturday. I've used this recipe for years. We made probably about 500 of them for JT and Kori's wedding a few years ago. Talk about a job! They are made from oatmeal and are a family favorite. Today I accidentally doubled the batch and now we'll have plenty to spare! Oh, well!

Did you notice the verse I included at the top of today's post? I like this and the many other blessing verses listed in Deuteronomy. It reminds me that my homemaking is blessed by God. This week while you are cleaning, cooking, baking, and preparing for Thanksgiving, Christian ladies, remember that your efforts are blessed by God! Read the entire chapter I cited and learn all about the many blessings you can enjoy. Deuteronomy is full of little nuggets of exciting truth and wonderful gems for the Bible student. (I guess that's true of all scripture, right?)

I guess there's nothing more rewarding for a Titus 2 woman (I like to think I qualify!) than breadmaking! I used to do much more of it than I do now, but I still enjoy the results! We promptly used some of the rolls for our supper, knowing there were too many for the upcoming dinner! Awww!!!

As well as breadmaking, I prepared to enjoy another of my biblical-woman style hobbies today--sewing. I was thrilled to finally get a piece of pinwale corduroy in hunter green yesterday--at half price nonetheless! I've been wanting to design a dress that appeared in "The Fields of May." It is Carrie's Christmas dress that she wore to the Blooming Hills Christmas Banquet in an early chapter of the book. I will wear it when I do speaking engagements from now on as a further promotional for the book if it turns out well. Because I am doing some "design" work to make it unique, there is always the chance that it will flop! I sure hope not! I am trying to have it done to wear for an upcoming Christmas banquet I am invited to. Today I washed the fabric to prepare it for cutting. Will feature the results later--good or bad! Stay tuned, Blessings, LORI