The dress

The wonderful thing about clothes that fit, is that when you move, they move. They don't go up when you reach up, and get caught on something (most likely, excess you) when you put your arms down.

I loved this dress the minute I saw it. I bought it to wear to my daughter's wedding... perfect day, pefect dress, wonderful memories.


But this lovely dress has been packed away for a few years... seems the dress stayed the same, but I changed. First, it stopped moving when I moved. Then, I couldn't move in it. So, surrendering to the battle of the bulge(s), I carefully folded the beloved dress and packed it away in the cedar chest.

It makes me laugh when I meet people that I haven't seen in ages who say, "you haven't changed a bit!" They don't know about the dress... and I'm not going to tell!

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing. Psalm 92:13,14

for Memoir Mondays - Two Writing Teachers

Delightful day

The excuse was... I needed a gift for a friend. So, I had to go into my workroom and get busy.

The truth was... I had so much fun on Saturday afternoon... dreaming and stamping and ripping and gluing.

It would have been more efficient to go buy something, anything! But where's the delight in that? This was heart and soul...


While I was at it, I made a few birthday cards too.

I might as well face it... the day was really a gift to me!

My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation. Psalm 35:9

Growing tomatoes

Don't laugh...


... this is my tomato patch. (I even held my camera at ground level so there would be any green!) Granted, it is almost the end of the season, but my tomatoes have looked like this for a couple of weeks.

Believe it or not, these sorry plants sent me off on a spiritual journey. (Who knew dying tomatoes could cause growth?!) Today I read in Psalm 92...

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree... they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

It amazes me how nature's way and the Christian life are completely opposite... tomatoes wither and die at the end of the season (take my crop for example!), but the righteous bear fruit in old age. In fact, fat and flourishing is quite a picture of health.

Other opposites to the natural life came to mind - love your enemies, pray for them which despitefully use you, return good for evil - just to name a few. Not an easy road to walk...

It isn't natural...

It's God-like.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to show the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:14,15

Great taste! No waste!

I have a favorite restaurant in the Chicago area - Portillo's. One of their menu items is a Garbage Salad. This is how they describe it -

"It's got a bunch of junk in it! Like blah, blah, blah... and on top of all that garbage is a trashy ... dressing."

I have only ordered it once (the Chopped Salad is what I love), but the memory of this unique dish inspired our dinner tonight - Garbage Stew.

We are off on a business trip for a couple of days and the refrigerator is filled with leftovers... bits too small to make a meal, but too much to toss.... hence, Garbage Stew with a "bunch of junk in it."

To give my hungry hubby some reason to look forward to this meal, I did make Southwest Cheddar Muffins, hot from the oven, slathered with soft butter. It doesn't get better than this.

Here's the recipe for the muffins... there is no recipe for Garbage Stew!

Southwest Cheddar Muffins
Makes 12
Preheat oven to 425
Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or line with paper liners

1/4 cup white flour
1/4 cup soy flour
1 cup cornmeal (stone ground is best)
2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
In a medium bowl, whisk or sift these together.

In another bowl whisk -
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup oil
2 eggs

Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, stirring just until mixed.

Gently fold in -
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup canned green chilies, chopped (optional)

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pan and bake for 20 minutes. These can make Garbage Stew look like food for kings!

O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. Psalm 34:9

Deadlines, tomatoes and the needful thing

I have a little booklet, written in 1967, that needs to be reviewed every once in while, "Tyranny of the Urgent" by Charles Hummel.

It has been on my mind the last week or two because of the incredible number of tasks that have piled up before me. Things that need attention now! Report deadlines are upon me, meetings happen, tomatoes get softer by the day....


I should be writing an encouraging note to a friend in distress because her mother needs nursing home care. I should be sending a long overdue thank you note for gifts I received. I should be writing... but these things can wait, and so they do.

I often think of Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, straining to hear His every word over the noise of the crowd gathered in her house. I wonder, how could she push aside the sight of hungry people in her own home who were waiting for food to be served? How did she ignore the exasperation of her sister who needed help in the kitchen?

But, most importantly, how did Jesus respond when Martha demanded Mary's help?

"Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41,42)

Priorities... One thing is needful. One thing.

August is a memory

August is a hard month. There is always a grey cloud on the horizon...

My younger son's birthday is in August, near the end of the month. Although he stopped having birthdays 17 months ago, that day, that birth day, belongs to him.

Though God sometimes leads me in a difficult path, I always, always, find evidence of the fact that He has gone before me to make that path bearable.

How, you ask? I'll give a few (chosen from a multitude) examples.

1.) Eight years ago, a little girl arrived in our family on August 26th, the day before her uncle's birthday. At the time the birthdays seemed to be piling up. Now? We are grateful for a person to hug and give gifts to... a distraction from the fact that we can't do that the following day.

2.) Last week, Rod had an unexpected vacation week. It happened so abruptly, that we had no special plans and he spent the week playing Mr. Fix-it here at home. (It was a good week for me not to be alone.) And, because he was not working, we could spend August 26th with our granddaughter... watching her face fill with delighted embarrassment as her classmates sang Happy Birthday to her.


3.) Sunday night, 12 of our family members gathered at Carraba's in Ka'zoo to celebrate the birthday. We reviewed the "remember whens", laughed, and grieved... It was a soothing time for all of us. The crowning point, just before parting ways, was when our grandson (who bears his uncle's name) stood outside Barnes & Noble regaling us with jokes that Grey would have loved. We laughed all the way to our cars, satisfied that Grey had been properly honored.


And now it's September... an easier month. I thank God for carrying me through... for loving me... for caring for my son.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:1,2

Ready to use

Aaaah the chairs.... Wait a minute! That should read, Aaaah, my back!

This catalog picture is the reason for my aching muscles. It opened our eyes to the wonderful possibilities before us. Really... after seeing this, would you stick with a wood tone?

And I know you have guessed - whether you actually commented, or not - as to the color we picked.

Well, it is time for the unveiling.


Technically, the color is cinnamon brandy - but Cherith had it right... orange. I wanted you to see how beautiful the color is against all the green of the back yard.

Can't wait till they are dry enough to sit in! Thank you Shaws!

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord... Psalm 1:1,2

Our new chairs

On the Fourth of July we received two adirondack chairs. The final finish was left for us to choose, so for a couple of weeks, we deliberated... should we pick a color to match the house or some knock-your-sox-off bright color that would never be forgotten?

Finally the decision was made. The prep work was underway - a light sanding, a thorough dusting...


...and then the primer.


What color do you think we chose?

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28