Thursday, July 31, 2014

Kindness versus Control and a Big-Bag for you to Make


Do you ever wonder what happened to kindness?  Wouldn't it be so nice if women and men too would be kind to one another?  A place where women would accept others for who they are instead of running through a series of sizing-up?   A sweet place of please come have coffee, my house is a wreck...I'm a creative mess like my daddy but you won't care right?   And that person really doesn't care?  Or how about...I can help you with this or that, no strings attached!  No control involved! If you don't use my 'recommend' that is quite alright, I'm just glad to help!  Or a place where Hey, the more the merrier!  Or how about the other party responding to a decline...Oh, you need quiet time, no problem, I'm an infp (highly sensitive easily tired-out) personality (maybe they are not) but they still say...No biggy, I totally understand!   Let me know when ya get the druthers. : )...   You get the big picture right?  

Jesus said:  Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love the neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.   Matthew 22:37-40

I have to say my mom is really good on this, she is a very neat person in her housekeeping even at 84 years of age, and yes, still a sweet pretty girl.  She is a trained artist and even her artwork style from the late 40s when she was a glamor girl in the city art school all the way from a little town has neat and clean lines, perfectly proportioned...My mom accepts that I'm more like my daddy.  My dad, an artist also, ...and a bit sloppy, but he can write a good ol' salty editorial and has spoken publically more then several times plus being on city council in younger years... You would never catch my mom writing an article or speaking publicly.  We are all different right?  To make a long story short?  My mom can come over and my home may be hideous on a certain day.  She doesn't care!  ...and I know she doesn't care!  She loves me unconditionally!   

One day when Becs was a newborn here in the country, a sweet fellow mommy from Germany who came to visit said boldly when I apologized for my home not being neat... 

She looked at me straight-faced and looked into my eyes saying
...I think people here (America) are too much like that...
  
Wow.  Was she correct!   I always remember her like it was yesterday saying that and we still see she and her Italian husband on certain days!

You may ask:  But what do you do to stay afloat?  First things first.  

Supper needs to be done.  First things first!  Hubs tshirts need to be washed and dried. (that may not mean being put up that day either!)  But they were clean! First things first!  The rest can wait.  In homeschooling?  I often had to put my blinders on to dishes in the sink, My children's schooling came first!  First things first!  : )   I try to enlist flylady.net to help me when possible.  She does.  So in my book?  A loving happy home, a hot supper for our family to eat together, cozy and clean tshirts for hubs not to mention clean toilets... That's a simple recipe for this girl!  First things first!  And don't forget creative time too!  Even if it's just ten minutes!  So ultimately?  Perfectionism is out the door! 


This article by Ann Voskamp really hit some heart strings with me...Oh how needed today!

How Women Can Stop Judging Each Other:  A Movement of Key Women 
 
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I know the above women, do you?  They read others' emails over the phone to each other...They have secret unspoken groups where others are forbidden.  Oftentimes...Sadly....Their daughters or sons mirror the same behavior, hurting others far more deeply then they could ever comprehend or ever know.  Now we have the event of the automated public invitations...I have found the same pressure of judgemental- control-issue-behavior even on those!  Some fear disapproval for allowing their 'yes' to be 'yes' and their 'no' to be 'no'.   Gee Willikins!


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Do you  know these gals?  Often you will see them at various get-togethers or shindigs.  You'll see the victim, perhaps one of our loved ones.. and the snide looks behind the backs... We know, because we ourselves have been the victim.  I remember being so horrified at the remark of an older woman whispering to me once...Look at Nancy's shoes... I remember being in my 20s and consciously not smiling at her remark.  Nancy's sin?  Wearing out of "style" chunky heel shoes.  Nancy was a happy go lucky middle aged woman, comfortable in her own skin and I think that's pretty good.

Yes, many of us have experienced these kinds of women.  Whether relatives or acquaintances we know them.

Ann's article above covers judgment of our homes and I really think it will be an encouragement! : )

Yes, we can feel like this poor gal in the bucket many times...
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But lets me and you be that Key Woman! If that means standing alone so be it! We'll be blameless and a lot happier me thinks even if we are standing alone!  God knows just how to send other Key Women our way, why it may be someone at the grocery!  It may be a precious angel who needs encouragement...I just ran into a precious, precious older widow at the store who recently lost her son in an accident.   Yes, Lord.  Let me be that Key Woman.   And Lord?  Please let my creative messes minister to others... Let my messiness be a sign of Mercy and Grace to others. 

Let's remember too, those who are so critical of others are many times very miserable people.

Live, Laugh, Love,  ...Pray Hard and SMILE.

Make'm wonder what makes us so darn happy. ; )

Christ is the Key.  We must remember how Jesus was treated and by whom.  (I know y'all know that).   But you have to admit, it's a mighty good reminder, yes indeedie!

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I'll close with a neat Big-Bag I made our daughters one Christmas.

Don't ya just love this retro material?   Becs just throws this giant pillowcase size bag over her shoulder and away to the gym she goes!  (Bias tape through two openings in the casings at the top of the bag.)  The two openings help the weight distribute more evenly.





I've been sewing a lot lately, I hope one day to post pics.  Pics are my nemesis it seems...I don't really care for selfies and I hate bugging my family to take the pics...(usually we're all scooting out the door when I wear my creations!)...and don't even get me into loading the dad-blasted things! 

Y'all do take care now... Until the next time...    amelia 



I also hope to just write some remembrances of my youth and childhood in the future. Pics or no pics. : )
Black and White photos are by Robert Stock.

Monday, July 21, 2014

A Movie and Music Great we are Enjoying...Oh 40s How I Love You...

Show N Tell Time!

I would like to share these goodies our family has enjoyed these past several weeks:

Nominated for FOUR Oscars and other wins as well:

Ernie Pyle's story of...  The Story of G.I. Joe (1945)



This movie stars a loveable Robert Mitchum playing one of the most heartwarming characters ever, a loveable but strong ...gentle leader.  Throughout the movie (beginning to the very end) you will see a precious little white dog with our soldiers...Oh my.  If this movie doesn't touch your heart nothing will.  Our entire family loved this movie great.  Our children, our youth need to see these movies.  The real deal folks....the real deal.  (Check out the history of this poignant movie for yourself).   Very interesting...  Enjoy.

And what is a Monday without some great music????

This should put a nice little zip in your doo-da!  We are loving this song...So. Great.

'The Lady's in Love With You' by Glenn Miller



I like to dance around the house to this music...great stuff for balancing a laundry basket and cookin' dinner.  So. Fun.  Our daughter, Marianna called attention to the greatness of this song on one of my Glenn Miller cds...  So glad!

Here's some of the cute lyrics that open the song...I typed'm as fast as I could...so they probably are not exact but you will get the drift of the cuteness here...

It starts with wowee music, then whistling then dialogue with Tex Benecke and Glenn Miller: 

Hello there Texas what you say?  I'd like to bend your ear if you're goin' my way...  Okay Glenn what's worrying you?.... Tell me the story and I'll see what I can do.  ...Well I've got a gal whose a real killer-diller but I'm not so sure she's interested in Mr. Miller....  Don't you know how to go about finding out?  No. You tell me Texas.  

Soooo cute!  The music is fantastic.  We get a real kick out of it!

No one else is going to make our homes a haven but us.  We have the freedom to enter or not enter into the present culture.

I choose to keep things wholesome.  Why not?  : )

..and trust me, our daughters are ages 20 to 31 now, it doesn't hurt them a bit to live in a purposely wholesome home.  I can't believe I even have to type that (shaking my head).  Most young people who know and have been around the real thing will certainly know a counterfeit when they see it.  Trust me. 

What have I been up to?  Sewing.  Sewing.  Cooking.  Cooking.  Nothing like it...  If we don't create for ourselves who will?   The Father gives the greatest ideas, He is the Master Creator.

There is such freedom in sewing, if you don't know how, it's great to learn!  I'm having such a great time sewing simple dresses etc.!  Let's teach our girls and guys to learn too.  I loved to hear of a soldier friend who made his own quilt and took it to war with him...not to mention making an outfit for his sister for Christmas.  No, he's a big manly guy.  From what I see, a godly guy too.

Our girls?   Oh working and doing and doing and working.  Laughing, pondering... One day at a time.

We found a sweet little church we are visiting, it's tucked away in a little country village out of a system of sorts, it's nice.  We shall see what we shall see.  We must remember, we are the Church. 

Today at the Forest Cathedral I may start to cut out a dress if I have time after my home blessing tour. (cleaning my bathrooms!)  lol  (Flylady.net is a great resource)

For supper?   Well....Don't quite know yet.   I'll see what I get the druthers to make later.

Love comes while we rest against
 our Father's chest.  
Joy comes when we catch the 
rhythms of His heart.
Peace comes when we live in harmony with those rhythms.  
-Ken Gire

One thing the Father is showing me whether the day contains bathing doglets, sewing, cooking...sending a card to my dad...Listen to the heartbeat of the Father.  It's not my list, it's His list.  His yoke is easy and His burden is light...

I am trying to take His rest.  I'm my own worst critic, the creative mess I am...I just need to do what the Father is whispering....His way is best.  We can't go wrong like that, right? : )

-Amelia

A Recent Sunrise over the Pond at the Forest Cathedral

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Sewin' up a Storm, and Show N Tell on a Sentimental Journey

I'm sitting here listening to Glenn Miller, so neat I think.

I love the time period of Glenn Miller don't you?

Thought I'd pop in and say hey, let you know of a fun outing and rumors of Mrs. Amelia sewing like a mad artist mom. : )

I also would like to say thank you to the sweet friends who posted comments on the last blog.  That was very nice and made me feel better on things...For some reason I'm not feeling the urge to blog, I guess because it's not as social as xanga once was and I feel like I'm blogging to ?.  I don't know, the twilight zone?  But then you never know who the Father has listening in the twilight zone. 

And blogging friends, those who posted sweet comments on the last, I think, I know you will agree.   I've been observing culture intensely lately, (I'm an observer of lots of things) I also observe sewing blogs to get ideas and learn.. I see a lot of stuff on some of those blogs.  You know..... stuff.  Sometimes what people write or say blows my mind.  So why would those folks want to follow me back?  (smiling, grimacing, giggling turning into a half (painful smile)...like this:  :/ 

Jem and I have been married 34 years now and time sure has flown!   Our girls are so busy, it's very difficult to get them in a pic together and I know those of you who I call friend would like to know how they are.  They are good!  But busy. 

Here's one example,  last month all four daughters were out at the Republican convention as delegates.  So.  That leaves Jem and I to make mischief.

Here's a field trip we went on while the girls were away.

I'm also going to include one of my homemade 60s shifts!  I've been getting into the 60s styles a bit of late.  Sometimes I do a sewing fusion of 40s and 60s mixed.  Go figure.

Here we go...
Me & Jem 34 yrs ago

My version of the Colette, 'Laurel'
 Me, now in my new shift I made on our 34th anniversary weekend!  Jem and I were getting ready to make some mischief going on a day field trip.  We had a blast by the way as you will see.
I used the Colette, Laurel pattern. I really  like the way the pattern fits.  I really like the way Colette explains things in her pattern booklets too!  (I nixed the zipper on this one)  Nice!  By the way..these beige flats are so versatile.  They are comfie, they are dexiflex from Payless. I add an insole for an arch but I know the padding is plenty for most.
The print I thought was so cute. I think black and yellow is so reminiscent of that Mary Tyler Moore and Rhoda era.  The time period reminds me of when I was a little girl in a good way when my Uncle Bennie got married.  My girls and I love most of those old Mary Tyler Moore shows.  I think Lea and Marianna, our oldest daughters relate well to the opening pilot where the doc decides he's not ready for marriage after making Mary wait for him to finish med school etc.  That idiot.  

Okay, now on we go...

Here is Jem as we arrived at our destination that day.  This is an old restored battleship used in D-Day. Tours are given.  Fantastic.  (Where are our girls to take our pic together?!) : )  Alas, this happens when our little girls are big girls now...

Magnificent.
The grounds are absolutely gorgeous.  The feel of things were from another time in our country, perhaps the 40s or 50s?  A very wholesome time.

 Look at that sky...
An adorable vet visiting.  Was he on this ship during WWII?  The D-day Invasion?  If you know me hardly at all, you know I love our vets.  When our big girls were little girls they each kept a little handmade booklet out of construction paper and decorated the booklet themselves.  Whenever we would run into a vet, like this...Our little girls would ask them to sign their booklet.  Such good memories of our adventures when they were little.

 Did you know Louie Zamperini died yesterday? Oh my, he will be sorely missed.  Check the book out, "Unbroken".  Our fam listened to part of it on tape several weeks ago. Fantastic.  Louie Zamperini has quite a testimony.  I had bought the book for Jem one year for Christmas, we checked the book out on tape from our library recently and our entire fam including my 84 year old mom are spellbound by the Zamperini story!  HIghly recommend.
This restroom pavilion is very ornate, carvings, a large open area in the middle to separate ladies and gentlemen... awesome. Very, very old.  Lovely.  From another time.  I'm staying in that sweet culture.  Will you join me? : )

 Such a lovely day.

So that's a portion of an update from the mad sewing artist mom.
What happens when the scissorhands mom tires of a shirt and tries to update it.  I get a bit radical. I did save the buttons. 
A retro, vintage silk scarf I sported with Jem one night.
My little sewing machine serves me well. Just a simple, most basic little model from Walmart online delivered to my door for $50. more then several years ago.

Well, this is a newsletter of sorts...Just a slice, there's lots more, Imax D-day doc, museum visits, many more sewing projects, feeding chickens etc.

Life moves on. I'm at a little bit of a weird age of 53.  The Father is good though and He gently leads me through this journey.  I'm definitely not part of this popular culture and never have been, it's nothing new. : )

Signing off from the Forest Cathedral.  

What did you make for supper?  I made my Grandma Oddo's pasta gravy over pasta, pizza bread with artichokes, Italian veggies. It turned out rather nicely! 

Amelia