Ask and it will be given....

It's been that way all my life, I suppose.....

trusting in God. I was taught at a young age

to get down on my knees before bed and say

my prayers. My instructions were simple.....

As I lay down to sleep, I asked God my soul He

would keep.

I asked God to take care of me and all my family.

-

"For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the

glory forever....Amen."

I taught the same prayer to my children.

-

I had no doubt that He heard my prayers and that

trust continues today.

-

As I've grown older, I've learned it's best to

thank God in the beginning of my prayers,

Thank Him for my children, my family and friends

His blessings, guidance,

happiness and peace.

And then

I praise Him

for all that He is.

Then I ask, trusting that it shall be given.

Finally, I come to Him with

gratitude and love...for

He is my Savior ....

-

May you sense His blessings this Lord's Day....Dee Dee

Victoria.....beautiful stories from the past

With all the things I've got going on, I

really didn't need any more distractions.....

but I found one today.

"Hmm....wonder what's in this box? I asked self.

I had discovered old Victoria magazines,that had been

packed away for quite a long while.

The year 1990.....took me just a moment

to realize this was twenty years ago.

This was like finding treasure,

considering Victoria is my all time favorite

publication.

As I opened the pages, I was curious to know if

women liked the same things back then. The answer

was an overwhelming ...yes, of course.

"Romantic Living Inspiring Women".....Sub Title

Oh yes....I will read from cover to cover, I thought

to myself...just as before.

But then,

I briefly turned the pages....."A Home Graced With Lace"....

"White Flowers In The Moonlight"

until finally reaching

the last page. It is there I found this.......

-

Chimes In My Garden

A Grandmother's Voice by Catherine Calvert

(Ms Calvert and I, were blessed with special grandmothers)

-

The happiness of being eight or ten or eleven at my grandmother's side is

something I still remember today whenever I catch a whiff of honeysuckle

or see a bumblebee light on a blowsy dahlia. For of all the gifts this loving

woman bestowed, the gift of the garden with its lessons of patience and

beauty and the circle of life is the one that has meant the most to me.

-

Sigh.....I am perfectly happy and content

as I continue to read.....Dee Dee

The Corn Patch?

Almost over night, this little patch of

"something" grew in our garden.

At first, I wondered and then

I knew.

"BIRDSEED"

had fallen from the feeder in the exact

location.

Once it began growing, I kinda liked the

idea. Hey, I was growing my own

birdseed!

So far, the little critters haven't noticed.

I think maybe once the seed dries out, and falls to

the ground, the birds and squirrels will

take notice. I'm at least hoping so.

I am, however, the only one showing this kind

of interest and enthusiasm.

The Mister humorously refers to my seed as

"the corn patch."

-

Good Blessings.....Dee Dee

Be Very Careful.....

"Sewing Notions Dance In My Head"

by Dee Dee

-

Funny title for a painting, I think.

Be very careful while reading my post,

for sewing ideas can become quite

contagious.

Well now.....sewing break is over and

I've had my fun with art today.

Back to the fabrics.....Dee Dee

Getting Started.....

I get the same feeling each time I enter

a fabric store. Are you, like me, a bit overwhelmed

with all the beautiful selections? I find it

all irresistible and have to use a lot of

self-control, otherwise my basket would be

toppled over with my favorites.

Yesterday, shopping at Joann's Fabrics,

I limited myself to the fabric

shown. I love the pattern and colors,

to begin my baby quilting endeavors.

This fabric feels like a soft brushed cotton,

lightweight twill.....I have no idea, but

it was in the baby fabric section. The "toile"

design is precious and placed together

with the polka dots....oh my.

Quilting being a whole new learning experience

for me, when it came time to purchase batting

I had no idea.

My selection.....

"Warm & White.

Wonderfully White Needled Cotton Batting

I think I made a good choice, after visiting the

website for the company http://www.warmcompany.com/

-

My head is spinning with all sorts of ideas,

so I best get started.

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Lessons from Cinderella

The age of innocence.....that's

what I tell my girls about growing up

in the l950s.

On most Friday nights, my family gathered

in front of our mahogany console

television to watch "Disney."

Walt Disney had a reputation, in those days, of

producing good clean, wholesome

programs, considered appropriate for

each family member.

The closest thing to

violence, might have been

the evil witch in Snow White,

or the wicked step-mother in Cinderella.

For the most part, we learned important lessons

for a good life.

My favorite show, was Cinderella.

It is the story of a beautiful girl, falling in love with a handsome prince.

From their story, young ladies of my generation,

learned about falling in love,

Of course, we all grew up looking for our "handsome prince."

Many of us found him....I did.

-

I'm remembering the moral lessons found in many

Disney's productions. Somehow, they seemed

to go right along with what our parents were teaching us.

-

Pinocchio taught us that

telling lies can get you into

lots of trouble and none of us wanted our noses to grow.

(A few of our politicians

might learn a thing or two from this little puppet story.)

-

But, you know....times have changed.

For the life of me, I can't think of a single

television show I would sit down and watch with my

grandchildren. Seems the producers these days

slip in little messages with agendas to their own liking.

Even in cartoons,

children are hearing and seeing things that

misdirect the innocence of childhood, forcing

them to think on subjects and lifestyles they are

to young to understand.

-

I suppose our lesson here.... we should no

longer take it for granted that" so called"

family entertainment can be trusted.

-

So, I've had my say.....funny how Cinderella

conjured up all these thoughts.

Thinking more serious thoughts today....Dee Dee

Summer Garden Colors....

Continuing to bloom....lavender Crape Myrtle Along the pathway....a Crape Myrtle Shrub

Knockout Rose....by the pool

When opening the blinds this morning,

the first thing I saw was a sweet ole

pink "knockout rose" just showing itself off.

-

We've had so much rain this summer,

the rose has tripled in size. In the past,

I've taken the scissors and trimmed

off the dead blooms, thinking this

the thing to do. Not so, it seems,

they shed themselves, while continuing

to produce new blooms without any

assistance from me. Seemingly,

not be bothered in the Florida heat,

the natural rainfall is enough moisture for them.

-
As I walked through the garden taking

photos....I thought of how the dominant summer colors,

were all my favorites.

While I'm not thinking of winter just yet, I did have quick

thought of how then, the garden landscape

colors will completely change.

-

Hmmm....remembering cooler days and

my large white potted winter Roses ......Dee Dee

Necessary Items....Fabric, Pins and Pin Cushion

Yes, they're all needed and plenty of each.

I discovered something today. It takes a good

bit of preparation when one is quilting.

It requires bringing out all those

containers of fabric I've stored away

through the years.

I knew the occasion would come one day

and now the pay-off for saving fabric

remnants and scraps is finally here.

I began today, cutting squares

and color coordinating them in separate stacks.

I am considering appliques....birds, stars,

moons.....and these too will have to be cut out.

Time consuming,

yes....

but each quilting project will be a

"sweet labor of love."

-

I'm having so much fun.....Dee Dee

Quilting?

"The Little Big Book for Grandmothers"

by Lena Tabori and Alice Wong

-

This book has been on my bookshelf for quite a

number of years. It is chocked full of Fairy Tales,

Poetry, Activities, Songs, Old Fashioned Games,

Granny Stories and Recipes....and a few more

things I've not mentioned.

It's all there.....how to entertain little ones.

Now...let me re-word that. How to

entertain the little ones and their Grandmother.

-

I came across this page a while back, and

made it a goal of mine to one day return to it.

"Family Quilt" the page is titled.

I have wanted to learn quilting, for as long as I can remember.

One thing that kept me from it was "time."

Now I have time.....but can I teach myself?

I think I can!

-

Once, while visiting a blog that displayed

lovely quilts, I read something I've

never forgotten.

If pioneer women with very little education,

under the most unlikely conditions could

make quilts to keep their family warm.....

then anyone can make a quilt.

-

In my Grandmother's book, I am following the

instructions....so simply outlined to teach young children.

-

Now, let me see.....To sew the first row, place the second

square on top of the first, front sides facing each other.

Pin along one side of the square and sew a l/4-inch seam

down this side. Remove pins.........

-

Sounds pretty easy, doesn't it? Now let's see...

Sew simple shapes like stars, moon, and letters to the

quilt squares to make a small crib quilt for expected grandchild.

-

I'm really loving this.....Dee Dee

Thanking Him for His Amazing Grace

Dr David Jeremiah's message taken from

John 1:14

Grace is something God gives us,

expecting nothing in return. It is

an undeserved gift from God.

But know this....

God will never give you Grace if

your full of yourself.

On my playlist

Amazing Grace written by

John Newton.

He put to music what the world needs

to discover about God.

-

Jesus is the embodiment of Grace.

-

"Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,

that saved a wretch like me......"....Dee Dee

He is called "Grandson"

Dearer than our children are

the children of our children.

~Egyptian proverb

-

Well, this is pretty amazing. Who would have

thought I would fall in love

with a little red-headed boy.

He is a happy child and the smile on his face

is nearly always there.

This past week he went fishing

and I, his great grandmother

recorded the event

with pencils and watercolors.

-

Remembering his smiles this evening......Dee Dee

Saturday Sewing.....

" The Tailor of Gloucester" by Beatrix of course....

-

I think it a good time to bring out fabric,

needles and threads.

New grand babies on the way, and one a little girl

to be named "Olivia."

What fun!

Perhaps little pillows with

sweet embroidery.

Stuffed animals are fun to make.

I have my creative Grandmother

juices flowing....

can you tell?

-

A busy Saturday planned.....Dee Dee

A Bad Hair Day?

We've all been there.

Having fun with watercolors and pencils.

-

Have a happy weekend.....Dee Dee

Loving the gentle rain.....

I Love A Rainy Day....

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.....

Rainy Night In Georgia...

I can probably sing a few lines from each of

these songs.

My favorite is Rainy Night

In Georgia...."seems like it's raining all

over the world......."

We're having a gentle rain that began

earlier in the afternoon. I got a little wet while

in the garden taking photos.

Some of the Crape Myrtle blooms have

fallen off and in their place small pinkish

red berries.

I'm enjoying the cooler temps that the

rain causes.....

It can rain all weekend long

and that

would be just fine with me.

-

This is the day the Lord has made:

Let us rejoice and be glad.

Psalm 118:24

-

Have a blessed weekend.....Dee Dee

click on photos to enlarge

Miniature Art by Dee Dee

I'm not quite sure when it all started,

but I do know how and why.

I wanted artist paper in tablet form,

small so they took up little space

on my desk.

Windpower Watercolor 6" x 9" ....

15 sheets per tablet. Seemed like the

perfect size at the time and is still my preference.

After painting this

way for over a year, I have a good size

stack of these small paintings.

Little did I know, that by drawing this

way, I was cultivating

or encouraging myself to paint and

draw in what is referred to as

"miniature art painting."

I can and have painted on

larger paper, but as a preference

my smaller artistic creations seem to

be my forte'.

Another up-side to this style....I can

perfectly illustrate my Blog post.

-

So for now, I am painting small and really enjoying it.....

-

Good Blessings for you......Dee Dee

click on painting to enlarge

I Dreamed A Garden........

I can still remember the days

prior to my retirement. I had worked for many

years, and was pretty much "over it!"

Instead of

slowing down those last few months,

my mind was going

"full steam ahead" with anticipation.

I knew what I

wanted to do and the direction in which

I was headed. I had set goals, and of course

I was also wide open to the spontaneity of life.

Working for me, had been a

distraction....and not the way I

wanted to spend the hours, days, weeks,

months and the years of my life. However,

working was a necessity that I willingly accepted.

-

Where did all these thoughts come from?

Well, I was listening to Dennis Prager on the

radio today, and he made the

statement that he would never retire,

or quit working, for he was doing what he loved,

that being a "radio talk show host."

Mr. Prager seems to have complete

ownership of his time.....the perfect ideal.

-

I wonder how many of us think it ideal

to continue working well into old age.

I would have to say, it's kind of nice setting

my own agenda.

-

"You have to dream things out. It keeps a kind

of an ideal before you. You see it first in your mind

and then you get about to try and make it like the ideal.

If you want a garden.....why, I guess you've got to

dream a garden."

~Bess Streeter Aldrich (A Lantern In Her Hand)

-

And so it goes....Dee dee

Serving tea in my "very best."

A while back, I began thinking of

how seldom I used my

"best tea dishes"....

All my pretty

pots, cups and saucers were stored

away and I brought them out only when

I entertained.

Why was I doing this? I suppose it was

a behavior started when the children

were small. These niceties were just

too special to be used for "every-day."

-

No longer do these rules apply in my home.

Every day is special

enough for my "very best."

Something to ponder, I think.

-

I hope your having a good week....

As for me....lets just say

I have a very grateful heart.....Dee Dee

Sunshine....

" Sunshine on my shoulder

makes me happy........"

God gives us everything we need.

When we're hurt or sad,

He is with us.

Listen for the whispers

in your heart....it is Him.

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Enjoying .....on my Playlist

Keith Harkin.....Celtic Thunder

Monday's Garden

Believe me, taking these photos ..... a

labor of love. It is so hot outside.

As you can see, the garden

is doing well, thankfully we've

had some good rain.

-

Thought for the day.....by Corrie Ten Boom

Take the far look often. Looking up is healthier

for the eyes than looking down. God's promises are

like a home hearth fire by which we may warm our

hearts and our hands. And, the marvelous thing

is this...that we now receive not the spirit of the

world but the Spirit of God Himself...so that we can

actually understand something of God's generosity

toward us. ~l Corinthians 2:12

-

Thanking our Father today.....Dee Dee

Compassion

Painting by Jerry PinkneyIt sits on my bookshelf and I refer to it now and then.

"The Book of Virtues" by Bill Bennett

It contains material that at one time, was taught

to children in schools, homes and churches....all for the sake

of shaping character. The vast majority of

Americans share a respect for certain fundamental

traits of character: honesty, compassion, courage

and perseverance. My focus today is on compassion.

This past week, I witnessed the lack of compassion

and kindness. It was hurtful and had a sting to it.

I was reminded of one of the oldest and best-loved

stories of kindness paid and re-paid.....

"The Lion and the Mouse."

"You laughed at me once," said the mouse. "You

thought I was too little to do you a good turn. But

see, you owe your life to a poor little mouse."

~Aesop

-

The lesson here....To feel another's anguish........

this is the essence of compassion.

-

Continuing the journey......Dee Dee

A Favorite Place....

The Mister....checking out the menu Weighing the Red Fish....
Our view.....while dining

You get it all at Capt'n Jack's Restaurant.....

great seafood, service and awesome scenery.

We tried to ignore the heat and so did a lot of

other folks sitting outside overlooking the water.

The large umbrellas kept the sun off us but

other than that they did very little else.

No sooner had we ordered large glasses of iced tea and

Grouper sandwiches, than we began noticing

the boats coming into the docks one after the

other. What was all the commotion about, we wondered.

It was then we noticed the sign that read

"Red fish Tournament."

We saw some pretty large fish, as they

weighed and measured them. I can imagine

a few fish stories were being told

amongst that group of guys. I doubt they

even realized the temps were registering

around 100 degrees.

Our Grouper sandwiches were really

good and the entertainment even better.

And so it was, a fun hot Saturday afternoon

in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

-

Blessings.....Dee Dee

My Summer Haircut

Okay.....So I go to my regular hairdresser

and tell her I want it short for the summer.

When she handed me the mirror, so that

I could see the back, I believe my

hand began to tremble.

It didn't help to hear the Mister say

"Don't worry Honey.....it will grow back."

I suppose I have to keep my sense of

humor about such things, and I will

have to wear a hat at the beach.

The last thing I need is a sunburned head.

-

Laughs and hugs......Dee Dee

The Spirit of the Tea Party

Peaches and Cream Scone

Teacups
"Listen, for I will speak of excellent things."
~The Book of Proverbs
-
I think there is a little child inside all of us that
longs for a lovely time of childish imagination,
of special manners ....or maybe even "dress up."
It is hard to resist a tea party and I have been
known to share a cup of pretend tea with
two young people in my life. I'm smiling
as I recall the conversation that consisted
of polite interest in the weather, but mostly
the ravenous appetites for tea treats.
The teapot played familiar tunes
when the tea was poured.
"I'm a little teapot short and stout......"
Beautiful things happen while having
tea with children.....the little "extras" feed
the soul and nurture the senses. Again,
it's that unhurried conversation that is
the spirit of the tea party.
-
There are few hours in my life more
agreeable than the hour dedicated to the
ceremony know as afternoon tea.
~Henry James

I completely agree with that......Dee Dee

Hunting For Vintage White

I am drawn to white. I suppose it

gives me a clean palette and from there

I can add color, or take it away if I like.

For a while now, I've been collecting

vintage white....anything usable for the kitchen.

-

Today I popped into an antique

shop...a favorite place for retail

therapy ....makes my heart happy

when I find a treasure.

Would you

call an old Fire King bowl a treasure?

Or...a vintage white enamal pan?

I do.

I used the pan tonight......really

handy for making biscuits.

Kinda had an old fashioned feel about it,

and I think the biscuits even

tasted better.

-

I Googled vintage white bowls

this evening and these

photos are from Country Living.

-

I'm on a mission now.

I love the thrill of hunting antiques.

-

O, white pear, your flower-tufts thick on the branch

bring summer and ripe fruits in their purple hearts. ~H.D.

-

Hugs......Dee Dee

Spiritual Guidance

My formative years

summers especially,

had leisure days,

spiritual guidance and plenty of time

to run and play outdoors.

We had the best of

circumstances for a childs well being.

Summers meant Vacation Bible School,

long walks with scout leaders, library books and

swimming.... swimming.....swimming.

-

Whenever I think of my early

years of childhood, it's usually

through something triggered

by interacting with my grandchildren.

I have stories just like theirs.

These times are so important....

In their formative years,

they are so vulnerable.

What they see, hear and

read, molds their little

thought patterns and develops

how they will react to life.

In their Christian home,

they are learning that God

makes them grow, giving them minds

and eyes to look at their world.....

and that

He gives them a small voice in their

hearts to help them know right

from wrong.

This week they

are attending Vacation Bible School.

"How was Bible School?" I asked.

"Awesome.....we did crafts, had a

Bible lesson and learned new songs...."

It was then she began singing.....

one of her new songs, and

can I just say the sweetest music

ever heard.

-

I am Blessed......Dee Dee

.....watching how she handled life.

As a child, I spent part of my

summers with

Ida Macey Compton, in the

mountains of North Carolina.

She was my mother's mother and

my grandmother.

I've been told by family

members that I have

plenty of her genes, for I look

much like her.

-

Oh, I could tell you stories

about this woman.

She came from humble beginnings,

born in Kentucky, she lost both

parents at a young age and

lived with an aunt and uncle.

Married in her early teens, she

would bring sixteen children

into the world during the worst of

times....the Depression years.

-

Grandmother owned very little

in the way of fine things, but

she did have a few treasures

tucked in a curio cabinet.

"When I'm gone to be with the

Lord, I want you to have

some of these," she would say.

My favorite reminder of her, is a pink

Depression glass dish....I too have it

in a curio cabinet and one day it will

be passed on to a granddaughter.

-

What I remember most about Grandmother,

was her faith in God, her inner strength and beauty, her graceful

qualities and polite gentile manners.

She was a lady, that taught

me so many things, just by observing how

she handled life.

-

I've been thinking about her a lot lately.

I'm quite sure those genes

of inner strength .....she passed them on to me.

-

Missing her "butterfly kisses".....Dee Dee

Refreshing....

Whew! The thermostat in the car

read 102 degrees, as we were

running a few errands today.

By the time we had accomplished

everything, we were hot and tired.

I've not been in the pool for a while,

what with all the appointment dates on my

calendar, so

when the Mister suggested we

make the plunge to cool off,

I was all for it.

Maybe not a plunge.....let's just

say with the garden atmosphere quiet and

serene,

we had a relaxing refreshing swin.

Wish you had been here with us......Dee Dee

........learning to read

In the schoolroom there was a shelf

containing a few tattered books,

given by some kindly citizen, and the

boys were allowed to read them on

Saturday nights. Few made use of the

privilege, for they couldn't read well

enough, but Job read them all.

He read among others the Pilgrim's

Progress, Gulliver's Travels, Robinson

Crusoe and The Cloister and the Hearth,

spelling them out as best he could to

begin with but soon reading fluently.

All the books had pictures in them.

The books were like rooms in a great

house and the pictures were lamps lit

in the rooms to show them to him.

As he read, his dreams slowly changed.

~The Dean's Watch

-

I posted a few days ago about

Elizabeth Goudge.....

Enjoying her writing, I've began

reading "The Dean's Watch."

I now have a stack of her books on my

desk. Upon reading the above paragraph,

I bookmarked the page

to refer back when writing this post.

I thought it quite beautiful, and wanted to share.

I can appreciate this, having a seven

year old granddaughter that

frequents the library, bringing home

sacks of books. She's loving the

summer reading program, and it

makes my heart very happy for her.

-

It is true when they learn to read,

they read to learn.....

-

Blessings......Dee Dee

"Tea At The Ritz"...... not exactly, but close.

A summer fantasy....why not?

-

A way to say "Thank You"

-

In the planning stages and soon to

happen at my home.....

A classic English-style

afternoon tea....savories and sweets

and of course scones served with

Devon clotted cream, lemon curd and

preserves........ Perhaps

tea sandwiches and lovely

tea time deserts.

The best part of the tea party...

sweet faces of friends and priceless

conversation.

I can hardly wait!

-

One ought, every day at least, to hear

a little song, read a good poem, see a

fine picture, and, if it were possible,

to speak a few reasonable words.

~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

-

Love and Hugs....Dee Dee

Summer.....a magical time of year

"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon;

to me those have always been the

two most beautiful words in the

English language."~Henry James

-

I say to Mr James....

"Sunday afternoon, Sunday afternoon;

two of my favorite words....."

It is the Lord's day, a time to stop for a moment

and give thanks to Him who

made it all.....As leisure time has become

a rarity these days,

I think it a good thing to

again find the benefits of a Sunday

afternoon slower pace......

To take time to relax and nurture

family and friendships.

-

"Then followed that beautiful season.....

Summer...

Filled was the air with a dreamy

and magical light; and the landscape

Lay as if new created in all the

freshness of childhood."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

-

I hope your enjoying a delightful

Sunday, summer afternoon.....

......Dee Dee