Sunday, February 27, 2011

Books


As well as my Bible (I'm reading the book of Esther in the Old Testament at the moment), I'm also reading The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges.

I highly recommend it.

Paul Washer - man of the moment!

Sunday afternoon here and I've just watched another video of Paul Washer - well actually, I only listened to it as I was knitting while listening :o)

I would urge...urge...urge...you to listen to it!! I have listened to about 4 of his sermons over the last week. They are amazing! This one is a question and answer time (goes for about 1 1/2 hours) but covers a lot of different areas, so is very good to hear Paul's thoughts on a variety of biblical subjects. You can watch the video here.

I've also discovered a lot of his sermons can be listened to here

Much more challenging and uplifting that TV!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Paul Washer

I've just discovered Paul Washer. You can watch his videos here.

I've just watched a Conversation with Paul Washer and will certainly be watching more. Seems to me he preaches it like it should be.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Reading

Yesterday I made my weekly trip to town and the library is a regular stop. I generally come home with a bag of books and then end up taking most of them back unread due to lack of time.



I'm starting with this book Friendly Persuasion about a Quaker family in America's mid west. I had heard mention of it on another blog and so far I am really enjoying it.




What are you reading? I'm always interested to hear about good books.

New projects

I'm crocheting squares for a baby blanket for a friend whose baby is due any day now. The squares are actually mauve, green and yellow...although in the picture the yellow looks pink. When I know whether she has a girl or boy, I will add pink or blue squares accordingly. And I will probably edge each square in white.




And this is the knitting project I've been working on for awhile, but am getting back to now. The vest is in eco wool, which is natural and undyed, and smells very 'sheepy'...I love it!


Today the weather has been very grey and windy...good knitting and crocheting weather :o)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Finished!

The lap blanket I posted about here is finished!




I used a 5mm crochet hook and 8 ply acrylic yarn double to do the coloured squares, and then crocheted around them in a single strand of 12 ply acrylic (still using the 5mm hook). After sewing up the blanket I crocheted an edge around it using a 3.5mm hook and cream 4 ply nylon yarn used double.

You can see the edging a little better in this photo:


It was a good way to use up some of my left over bits and pieces of yarn :o)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

company


I had friends come to stay last week...Joseph and Carolynn...it was lovely to have their company and we had lots to talk about.

Joseph puts out a monthly publication called The Australian Anabaptist. He also has a website here if you would like to take a look. There are lots of good sermons and articles there to listen to and read.

and they just keep coming.....

Birthday gifts that is....

My daughter Marnie and grandson Denver sent me this book full of lovely quotes. Here are some:

Abundance is...not how much I own, but how much I appreciate it.

Abundance is...a thankful heart.

Resolve, to live with all my might while I do live...
Resolve, never to do anything which I should despise or think meanly of in another. Resolve, never to do anything out of revenge. Resolve, never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life. (-Jonathon Edwards)





And my daughter Natasha and family sent me this book she had made up with some of the photos she took while here. I thought it was a book about Stanley when I opened it, and then I recognised the little boy (Zak) on the cover!



And I opened it and it was full of the photos she had taken:


Maybe I should have birthdays more often :o)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Look what I got!!

My son Jefferson sent me this beautiful quilt for my birthday. He bought it when he was in Cambodia.





Here is a close up of the lovely hand quilting


He bought it from a women's co-op which provides employment for women in rural areas. You can read about the project here.

And if you get time, read some of the quilter's stories here.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

My friend Pen posted this on her blog over at Kindred of the Quiet Way. I thought it was very good, so am posting the link here too...for those of you who haven't already watched it over at Pen's :o)

It takes about 20 minutes to watch. Enjoy.

Brene Brown: The power of vulnerability | Video on TED.com

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Happy birthday to me...

Happy birthday to me...
Happy birthday dear me..eee
Happy birthday to me!!

In case you hadn't guessed, today is my birthday :o)

I had a lovely day, with lots of cards to open, phone calls and text messages from family and friends, and even a few gifts :o)





And this is my new friend Simone, and her dog Zola. She invited me for a birthday lunch and we had a lovely time together.




Thank you Simone...I really appreciate your friendship :o)

birthday beach walk

I don't usually take my camera with me on my morning walk because it's a bit bulky, but I decided I'd treat you to some photos this morning. They are taken in no particular order and all within an hour of each other (these and the ones in the next post) at around 7am. The reason some are dark is because I was taking them looking into the sun.

I love the sky in these first two:






birthday beach walk continued

In no particular order...





Friday, February 4, 2011

another bargain

I picked up this fabric panel (30" x 35") at another op shop for $8. It had the edge strips sewn on...





...and the batting was also with it. A friend had recently given me the red fabric and there is enough to use it for the backing. So I've got no excuses now...guess I'd better get quilting!

book bargains

I got these 3 books for 20 cents each at the op shop the other day. I am reading First We Have Coffee...about an immigrant family from Norway who move to America and share their life, family and faith with those they meet. I'm really enjoying it :o)


frugal crochet

I decided to use up my left over bits and pieces of yarn. I used a 5mm crochet hooks and 2 strands of mostly 8 ply yarn and crocheted some squares.





Then I found 3 balls of white 12 ply yarn, so am going to use it single (still with the 5mm hook) and crochet around each square before I join them together. The squares are about 7 1/2".