Goldilocks and the three bags

I think I know things... then, thanks to Google, I discover the things I thought I knew aren't what I thought they were at all!

Take Goldilocks, for instance. Google her and you will learn that she began life as an ugly, dirty, foul-mouthed old woman. Over the years, age discrimination set in (too many stories with old women) so the story's villan became Silver Hair, Little Golden Hair, and finally, Goldilocks, the girl who did everything in threes.

You could reasonably wonder, why would anyone Google Goldilocks? Well... because of her famous lines:

• This is too (hot/big/hard)
• This is too (cold/small/soft)
• This is just right!

I feel like I am the Goldilocks of netbook bags. I have made three now...

This one was too-o-o-o big.


This one was too-o-o-o little.


Finally! This one is just right!


You see why Goldilocks came to mind? At this point - no matter how that story started, this story has me living happily ever after.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8

Art - in the mail, in the garage

I've heard about an underlying rule of decorating - when seated in a room your eyes should always have an interesting place to rest. Both Pottery Barn and my mother have mastered that rule.

I'm working on it...

A week ago, I found a big yellow envelope in my mailbox. (Remember the scene in "You've Got Mail" when Meg Ryan does a walk/run to the park to meet her mystery man? That was me hurrying to the house to open my package.)


Hoping to give me some happy garden thoughts, my mother mailed this charming group of button flowers to me. Propped against my foot planter in the family room, it provides an entertaining landing place for the eyes.

Last Friday, while wandering in and out of garage sales with my daughter, I found this picture.


It was the only item of interest in the entire garage... dingy, numbered and signed by Luigi Kasimir.

Is it real? Is it valuable? Is it an intriguing place to rest my eyes?

I think so. It could be. It's growing on me.

For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Psalm 86:10

Family, food, flowers

A good meal always makes everything seem better. So, when I heard that my daughter would be undergoing a minor surgery, I started cooking. When the day arrived for me to assume "helper" duties, food was ready to go.

In the midst of all this, I learned that my grandkids have become fans of the Food Network. They know all about plating, flavor and points! My task became more than feeding body and spirit... I would be facing judges! So, (not wanting to be judged alone) we split into teams, cooked, ate until we were ready to burst and took our scores like the pros.


One grandson always gave me points in the millions. (sigh.... smile ) What a fun time together.

There was one other act of kindness that cannot be overlooked. The day that Heather came home, a little boy from her church arrived at the door with flowers in hand. His face and flowers showed the prayer of his heart. Surely God will grant the healing he requests.


...If two of you shall agree in earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18: 19,20

Princess gardening

I should be a princess gardener. You know, like the girls in Jane Austen novels, who put on long dresses and go into the garden to cut armloads of long stemmed flowers. (They always worry about being poor, but all they ever do is pick flowers and entertain guests in the parlor. Hmmm.)

Here in my real world, however, gardening is very different.

I rake and get poison ivy... that won't quit!

I plant flowers that occasionally live.

I walk outside for a leisurely stroll through the freshly planted vegetable beds, and some bug comes and bites me on the head. Not just a little mosquito-type bite, but a big oozing chunk out of my scalp!!

It's not pretty, the combination of me and the outdoors. But praise God, my peas are survivors. They are beginning to poke their little leaves through the soil.


I planted beets beside the peas.... at least I thought they were beets. When I finished planting the row, and folded up the (pictureless) seed packet, I discovered that I had just planted a row of spinach! Fortunately, spinach by any other name is still spinach. I have a curvy row of future greens coming up as well.


It may be a bumpy road, or row, but I'm not a quitter. I'll keep gardening - my style - and God will bless in spite of me. He is good, isn't He?

...the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and... watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater. Isaiah 55:10

Plans A & B

The past week was entirely different from what I had planned. The plan was that I would be playing nursemaid for my daughter, who would be recovering from minor surgery. She didn't need to have me there - I needed to be there. However, the surgery was postponed. My week, all carefully planned, loomed empty before me.

Enter, beloved husband... offering a trip to Missouri.


It's a long ride to Missouri, but located between here and there, is a tiny little town - pop. 722 - that holds treasures just for the finding. And boy, did I ever!

Both parts of this wonderful library card file were stacked in a back room, just waiting for me. It was love at first sight.


I pulled open one of the drawers to make sure everything moved smoothly... it was packed full of vintage and not-so-vintage file cards! In fact, every drawer was full.


But it was the price tag that sealed the deal. A little bit of haggling and this piece of history came home with me.

Ahhh... the thrill of the hunt, the joy of the catch. It has been a fun week.

...Ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. James 4:14,15

Spring time chores

Today was the perfect day for planting peas - warm, overcast... an ideal day for a very hands-on task.


The soil turned over by my dearly beloved who enjoys digging.


The rows looked straight when I was standing. Down low, they are a bit off. I imagine in a few weeks the crooked lines will never show.


The seed packet says 65 days. Can't wait.

And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. Genesis 2:8

The United States Postal Service

Although it is often maligned, I love the USPS. Not just because the mail arrives everyday, but because of the incredible services they offer.

Today, I sent a box halfway across the country by hanging it (with a check attached) from the flag on my mailbox. No trip downtown. No long lines. Service - plain and simple.


When I need stamps, there is the lovely orange envelope provided by - you guessed it - the USPS. I fill in the form on the front, insert my check - presto, chango - I have stamps. Sometimes even the same day... it depends on how specific I am with the type of stamps I request. (On occasion, I have shopped the styles online and then requested a particular stamp. That might take an extra day to arrive in my mailbox - at no extra cost!)


Are you getting full service treatment from the USPS? Try it. You'll like it.

I should mention that Helen, my mail lady, is the best.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. I Thessalonians 5:21

Just a peek

I have a box ready to mail.

That being interpreted means - a bag is finished and ready to go to its new home.

I don't want to spoil any first impressions, so I'll just give a couple of peeks of the final product.

My favorite closure - layered vintage buttons.


A cHim pocket insert -


I am upset about one thing, though. I got so involved in taking "peek" pictures that I forgot to take full shots of the finished product before I packaged it up! Now I have no records for myself.

It's amazing that I have the confidence to send anything off to anyone! Oh my.

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. Ephesians 5:1