Yarn along

Finished the baby blanket I was crocheting....

I loved working with all the bright colours....

And I picked up THIS book at the library yesterday and started reading it last night.  I was in need of a bit of escapism and this is proving to be just the thing...

 It appears it is the third in a series she has written.  I must search out the previous two.  Her book page is HERE.

I'm still working my way (slowly) through these...

 I want to finish them...just so I can say I did, and I am enjoying them...but...I keep getting distracted...

Hope you are enjoying a good yarn this week!!

Linking up with Ginny.

Son rise

He is not here; for He is risen... (Matthew 28:6)

(the beautiful sunrise on my walk this morning)

 

 

Easter...

...started off with a share tea on Thursday night, then Tenebrae service at the Uniting Church I attend. 

"Tenebrae is a traditional service that dates back to the fourth century and held during Holy Week. It captures the shadows of mourning that occurred following Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem through his crucifixion on Good Friday. It extinguishes candles to represent the sorrow felt by Jesus, his disciples and his followers."

We started off with  the church in darkness except for the backlight behind the cross at the front of the church. We had seven lit candles and seven bible readings from Matthew's gospel.  After each reading there was a brief interlude of relevant classical music played (Bach, Mozart, Wagner, etc) and one candle was extinguished.  The seventh candle (representing Christ) was not extinguished, but carried lit from the church and left in the foyer after which we all left in silence.

It was the first time I had attended a Tenebrae service...but it certainly won't be my last.  It made for a lovely start to Easter.

Friday morning I went with Marnie and Denver to the service at the Baptist Church.

After a quick trip to the fortnightly Farmer's Market on Saturday morning to stock up on fresh produce....

...I went down to the river where the free Easter Festival (organised each Easter by the combined Christian churches in Deloraine) activities were being held.  Only stayed for a short time (had to take some baking down for the tea and coffee tent), but it looked like everyone was having a happy time, especially the children with all the activities that were available for them...races, crafts, face painting, train rides, jumping castle...plus free food!  Even the parents looked happy!!

 

 The sack race in progress...

 

 

Then, this morning there was a combined Easter Sunday church service down by the river (sorry...no photos) which although not as well attended as the festival on the previous day, was a lovely finish to the Easter activities.  Even the rain held off till the service was over!

 

Having a quiet Sunday afternoon now.

 

I hope your Easter is a blessed one!

 

 

Yarn Along

Yarning along with Ginny again this week!

Finished the granny square hat I was working on last week.  Here's Marnie modelling it...

I've started another one in a different combination of neutral colours.

 

 

 Still working my way through these two books from last week and enjoying them both...

And looking forward to starting this one Ox Travels  (it's received mixed reviews, but should make interesting reading)...

All royalties from the book go to Oxfam to support the work they do.  The link is to their Australian website.  Their shop in Launceston is one of my favourites!

It's grey and raining here today.  Good read/knit/crochet weather :)

Finding God

17 April, 2014
Today's Free Devotional from Ellel Ministries International 
Finding God

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell."
Psalm 43:3, NIV

Today’s verse says something quite remarkable – it says that if you follow light and truth, you will find God. It comes from Psalm 43. The psalmist says to God, ‘send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me. Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell’.

That’s an interesting thought to ponder. God’s light and truth will lead us to Him. It has to be the real thing; not our own version of truth, nor our own source of light and understanding, but the real thing.

The people of the western world often tell us that there’s no such thing as truth, that it’s all relative. If it’s true for you, they say, then that’s good enough. But have you noticed that it doesn’t bring you to God?

The idea that there’s no such thing as truth runs counter to our common sense, yet so many of us buy into it, perhaps because it’s more comfortable to agree with the culture around us. But it only leads us to ‘our own God’, a god of our own making, who isn’t real and isn’t satisfying either. He (or she) certainly can’t give us real peace. A god of our own making is just like the idols of wood or gold that people used to make. It can’t do anything for us because it only exists in our own heads. It isn’t real. It isn’t truth.

Fortunately, there is a real God! He’s the source of truth. In fact He’s the source of all good things! Jesus once said ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’ and He went on, ‘no-one can come to the Father, except through me’ (John 14:6). On another occasion, He said ‘I am the light of the world’ (John 8:12). Jesus Himself is the way to God, and He mentions truth at the same time, because we need to come to God in truth and honesty. We need to come into the light.

Hiding will not lead us to God. We can’t follow the light while we’re standing in darkness, trying to hide. We need to be real with God. The thing that makes us want to hide is sin. Sin makes us feel ashamed. But the reason Jesus came was so that you and I can be totally forgiven and washed clean on the inside. Nothing’s too hard for Him.

There’s no peace or joy in darkness. If we’re truthful - honest with ourselves and with God - letting Him see the worst and most shameful things, we discover that He doesn’t criticise, condemn or reject. Instead He accepts us with open arms, just like the Father in the Prodigal Son story. He washes us clean, loves us and blesses us beyond our wildest dreams. It really is worth doing!

Truth and light are a gift from God to lead us to Him. When we stop hiding and are finally really honest, coming to God through Jesus, then we will find true peace. And more love than we could ever dream of!

Prayer: Father, I want to bring into the light all the things I have been hiding from you. And please show me if there are things I am hiding from myself. Thank You that there’s nothing too difficult for you to put right. Thank You that You love and accept me as I am, and You want to help me. I bring these things to You now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Today's Writer : Grace Marshall Grace Marshall is a member of the Ellel Ministries team, working in course development and the support of Ellel centres worldwide, having previously been a full-time GP (family doctor) for 15 years. Her passion is relationship with God and doing anything that will help other people to find that close relationship too.

small spaces

Picked up this book at the library the other day...

I have a thing for cabins and small spaces....

And wood...

 

And rustic interiors...

There are some modern designs in the book too, but I prefer the traditional.

And check out these amazing settings....

Dream on...

If you've got a thing for small spaces too, take a look at Tiny House Swoon site.

Picked up....

...these books from the library this morning...

 

I borrowed The Sustainable Asian House for Jefferson, as he and Amy are coming to visit the weekend after Easter.

 

I think I'll start my reading with The Snow Child. It's been recommended on a few blogs I visit, and I have a soft spot for the setting (Alaska).

 

And the Brokeback Mountain DVD happened to be on the shelf again so I grabbed it.  I did borrow it about a month ago, but got interrupted while watching it and missed a big chunk in the middle of it and wasn't able to re-watch it before having to take it back.  I know it is rather controversial, but what I saw of it I found really sad (and the scenery is superb!!)

 

 

Sewing up the granny square hat I've been crocheting in 'neutrals'.  They look grey in the photo, but are actually shades of brown...

 

That's it! 

 

Marnie and Denver are out so I'm making the most of my Saturday afternoon.

 

And I've still got Van Morrison to keep me company :))

 

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny again this week for Yarn Along.

Finished a second baby blanket during the week.  The pattern is HERE.  I really enjoy making them.  They are quick and easy and you can make them any size you want...

 

 

 Also got another hat crocheted and now working on one in neutral colours...

And last night I started this book - Made For Goodness - Desmond Tutu.  It is very interesting so far...

 

 

 

If you'd like to see what others are making and reading this week, go to Ginny's BLOG.

 

 

 

 

Fog

Very grey and foggy today.  I love it!!

Unfortunately my head doesn't, and the change in weather has given me a migraine, so I'm taking it easy today.  Thankfully I get some relief with my migraine medication.

A few years ago, when I live in Stanley (by the sea) I wrote down my thoughts after returning from my beach walk one foggy morning, about the fog being like God's blanket wrapped around us.

If you'd like to read it...it's HERE.


Resting...with Van Morrison...and my crochet :))

To market, to market....

....to buy fresh produce...not a fat pig!!

There is a new farmers market in Deloraine.  The Little Red Tractor Farmers Market, on every second Saturday morning.

This morning was only the second one, so after my early morning walk at 7am, I had breakfast and then headed on down to the market.  I parked my car on the west side of town and walked over the river bridge...

It was still early and they had just finished setting up...

I think this man had bulbs and the next one was plants...

Preserves on the left, and starting to get busy...

There is an area in the centre to sit and drink coffee and enjoy cooked foods and baked goods, and listen to the busker (a young boy playing the violin)....

This is where I get my eggs....

And my sourdough bread....

And my vegies....

By the time I left at 9am, to walk back over the bridge, the market was quite busy...

Here's some of what I bought...all local produce (within a 50 klm radius) to Deloraine.

Note the bottle of Tasmanian red wine, a glass of which I will enjoy with my dinner tonight....

 

Bon appetit!!

 

 

Yarn along

Just finished knitting this waffle (or basket) weave baby blanket in 8 ply pure wool.  It was so quick to knit and is lovely and soft.  I have some friends who are having babies over the next few months so want to get a couple made.  I'm working on a pink one now (using one strand of cream and one of colour together).  The pattern is HERE.

I'm reading Growing up Amish by Ira Wagler, and also dipping into A Celebration of the Simple Life by Wanda E Brunstetter...

And listening to Katie Melua's new CD Ketevan.  It's really good.  She has an amazing voice.  I would call her style a mix of blues/jazz...

I'm linking up with Ginny on her BLOG for Yarn Along. 

Enjoy your day!!