In Love with a Hardworking Man

Seek and ye will find.
Sometimes you don't have to seek.
Sometimes it is about seeing what is in front of you.
Being in the right place at the right time.

Do go to the places that matter to you.
Participate in the activities you love.
Find your passion and your mate may be there, too.

AS has slowed me down significantly.
Still I would not marry a lazy man.

Before we arrived in America, my father was
a dairyman...a farmer.
 We had a little milk can much like the
one below.  Times were hard, but mother
used to say,  we always had milk.
This meant we didn't go to bed with
empty bellies.
This meant we had drinking milk and
could make cheese.   Sugar was a luxury.
If we had water, the ingredients for bread,
coffee, milk for drinking, cheese for eating,
eggs and a bit of vegetables we were good.

Father was a hard worker.  I don't recall him
grumbling about going to work.  It was what
you did even if you hated it.  He always lent
a hand to the neighbors.

Don't pick a man who walks around with
his hands in his pockets. 
His underwear showing.

Longevity in Life and Love

Years ago while trying to sustain an unsustainable marriage,
I started reading mind body connection books.  Once I felt
stable and left the marriage I abandoned the books I was reading.


Today, I started reading When the Body Says No
exploring the stress-disease connection by Gabor Mate, M.D.

A best selling author in Canada but not here.

Many of us live, if not alone, then in emotionally inadequate relationships 
that do not recognize, or honour our deepest needs.  Isolation and stress
affect many who may believe their lives are quite satisfactory. 

                                                                       - Gabor Mate, M.D.


Life is not easy.  Pick a praying man.

Ask your suitor.  Do you pray?
If his answer is,
"I am not religious but I appreciate (or love) that you are."

RUN the way. You need a partner in all you do.
Gone should be the days when only the wife or mother
attends the places of worship.

In truth I am not religious  in the conventional bible thumper way.
In the way people use religion to support their anger and hate.
In the way religion is used to segregate.  The way some priests
used their position of authority to abuse children  or support slavery.


I do have a personal relationship with Christ.
Maybe that is why it is so easy for me
to vocalize things of the spirit. 
I enjoy sincerely enjoy symbols of organized religion.
A Bible is a constant.

Do I wish I attended church more often, yes.
Do I enjoy fellowship, yes.
Do I have friends from all faiths, yes.
Good people can be found as believers and nonbelievers.  
In selecting a partner, I still insist a shared faith is easier.
The more things in common the better for the longevity of  marriage.


Be equally yoked.  The scripture below
was not about marriage but it is useful here.
Great visual of the two oxen yoked together.


2 Corinthians 6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? 

and what communion hath light with darkness?

If attending church, praying in crisis, or
raising children in a a faith.
Eating vegetarian, voting for the Dems or GOP matters.
Pick a like minded mate.

Vintage tablecloths as art

Mr. Lee from the beginning told me he was a praying man.
He had jealous bones.

He was secure in his manhood and heterosexuality.
He was not homophobia.  In my opinion, men that are are scary.
He had been raised by a strong mother who worked outside of the home.
He would support my perpetual student tendencies.
Most importantly, he understood children come first.

Green olives...yum.

 



The bonus was he enjoyed reading, magazines,
thrifting, art, music, old movies,
and the hunt for vintage 
Oh yes, Joe would want me to tell you, Mr. Lee could
move a big couch. 
And agreed we would care for my mother if the opportunity
arose.  

You know homemakers took care in setting their dinner tables.

Activism in Bloggyland

Nearly six years ago I discovered the world of bloggyland.
Four years ago, I was impressed with the activism of bloggyland.
Many of the blogs I follow now had Obama buttons and Courage Campaign
buttons.  Now I am hard pressed to locate political activism.

Love Love this fabric

Is it that we are so starved for conformity?
Acceptance from our peers?  I am  asking sincerely.

My blog is such a tiny thing and I don't earn any income
from my efforts which is probably best.
Most of the visitors, I do get come for the creative spirit and
not for my soap box but there are occasions when I can't
hold my tongue.

Let's go back to the days when American products were king

Here's my post over on Facebook where I allow for my
political rants. 

Thank you my Facebook community for indulging me.
The Spirit inspires my words and leads me in my research.
To Suzeeeee May, whose words years ago inspire me now.
She once said she'd vote for me if I ever ran for office.
My sister in Christ, I hope you aren't sorry.

To my warrior girlfriends who circled me in my darkness.
I came out stronger, more determined and more vocal than ever.
I don'twant to sway your vote.
Make your own informed decision.

Nostalgic for American ingenuity

There is an alternative federal budget plan.
A plan not bought or paid for by the Dems or GOP.
A plan not compromising the most vulnerable in our society.
"A plan not favoring the 1% or the 99%. A plan for the 100%," Sister Simone Campbell.

The entire document is available on faithfulbudget.org

The budget's mantra:
Responsible
Revenue
for
Reasonable
Programs

Willing to save and buy the best USA made products

 


The federal government has subsidized the low wages
paid by businesses long enough.
The real wage for American workers has not changed since 1974.
You thought your paycheck bought less and it does.
For at least 10 years, the top 1% has enjoyed tax exemptions intended
for job creation while shipping American jobs overseas.
First, the manufacturing jobs then the service jobs.
Call me out if I lie.
Praise God for the taxpayers who provided my
free American public school education
where I learned how to think critically and read.
For significantly subsidizing my junior college attendance,
for providing a student loan program to help fund
my private college education, and for again subsidizing my
graduate program at a public university.
Praise God for my Catholic upbringing
of pull yourself up by your own boot straps work ethic.
For free speech, the freedom to practice my faith and own the Holy Bible.

God bless America.

Chasing Crafts: Thoughts on Marriage

Marriage is  like this little cabinet.
A work in progress.
This little cabinet has been in progress for nearly a year.

A gathering of memories and tokens representing a share life.
A family.
A marriage.

Step 1

My oldest niece.
The first of 11 grandchildren for my parents.
My godchild.
The little sister I prayed for.
Got married yesterday.

Step 2

Distance in miles kept us apart.
My mind and heart go to her and her groom.
To share a life better than the life they would
have led alone.  

Marriage is like this planting.
The jade is smooth with rounded edges.
Drought tolerant.  Simple.
Thriving even with neglect.

The germanium represents the poor man's rose.
Requiring some water and attention.
Bright with flowers and leaves.
Seasons for blooming and rejuvenation.

This pairing represents compatibility and contrast.
The delicate and sturdy nature of marriage.
Marriage is a living and growing thing.

A Wedding Prayer

Gracious and precious Lord
God of wonder and love
Through thine will everything is possible
For your pleasure, please bless the couple before you
Lord, place a seed of generous support in their hearts
Have them seek you in all times but
Especially in times of trial and worry

Please be  present in their hearts
and minds today and everyday

May the witnesses present today
Renew their own heartfelt vows
Commit these witnesses to support
This marriage

In your infinite wisdom bless this union
Help them, Lord, to honor you
Through honoring each other
May their love grow continuously
May the richness of respect and gratitude 
Fill their hearts
May they together be a blessing to others
May they have fire only for each other

Help them, Lord, choose the words and actions
They exchange

Lord, improve their vision to see only the
good in each other
And finally, Lord, allow them to love their
differences
and form a new future as one

Thank you, Lord for hearing this petition

Amen

Dreaming of pumpkins

My mind in wandering to falling leaves.
Cool evenings.
Pumpkin themed crafts.

Next project:

A  bit of linen or burlap,
lots of orange buttons, and an old fashioned 
button mosaic pumpkin.

Brother, Joe, be on the look out for orange buttons.

The kids and I have already gone through
all the button stashes here at home.

Inspiration click here.

Black cat click here.

Button mosaic here.

This is where my imagination is leaning.
This little guy wears a heart of his lapel.  

Years ago

Years ago my oldest son's father told
our son he would never be successful.
At least, not as success as he was. 

Here was a young man I had advised
to follow his passion not money.

A young man, raised to believe the measure of a
man was not based on how much he earned but
on his character.

I believed it then and I believe it now.
My parents would be defined as the
working poor today.
They were honest, hardworking, God fearing.

Hearts full of generosity and kindness.
Both gifted to provide assistance.
My mother with people and my father with animals.
I will always honor their example.
Recalling and supporting their principles.
A no nonsense couple.


Thank goodness we have a written history
of common sense.

Who else misses the moderates of  the past?

President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961).
The original passage, from a letter Eisenhower wrote to
his brother Edgar on Nov. 8, 1954, went as follows: 

Should any political party attempt to abolish social security,
unemployment insurance, 
and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, 
you would not hear of that party again in our political history. 
There is a tiny splinter group, of course, 
that believes you can do these things. 
Among them are H. L. Hunt (you possibly know his background), 
a few other Texas oil millionaires, 
and an occasional politician or business man from other areas. 
Their number is negligible and they are stupid.

Big God litte problems

Ankylosing  Spondylitis 
(AS Irish association this morning)
is an inflammatory condition primarily impacting the spine.
The mind/body connection is ever present.

For the last few days my entire torso has been
extraordinarily stiff.  Pain sufficient to
bring tears to my eyes.  Those closest to me
panic, just a bit, when I visibly
surrender to pain.   I won't have it.

If we can be put in a state sufficient to
allow for surgery then there must be a
way for us to manage our mind. To protect
and alleviate both physical and spiritual pain.  

These were my thoughts as I backed out of the garage this morning.
Clicked on the radio, to the voice of
Pastor Greg Laurie (clink to listen to "Don't worry, Pray")
speaking on Philippians 4. 
Do you think the message could have been
better timed? Of course not,  the Lord's
timing is always perfect.

This message was especially timed for me
and may be for you, too.  See God in all his glory
and greatness.  In comparison our problems are small.
When you start to feel anxious simply pray.  


Pastor Greg said, "Never be afraid to commit an
uncertain future to a known God."

Powerful.  The tightness in my torso is gone.


Phillippians 4

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 
⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  
⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Amen.  
 

Fairy Steps

I LOVE high heels... I think cute shoes are a
joy reserved for women but admired by men.

I wore platforms for all the years I waited tables.
Danced in patent leather black pumps.  
Walked miles in Birkenstocks.
Represented in Doc Martins.  
Limited to slide on type shoes unless I have a
willing accomplice. 

Anklosing Spondylitis forced me to leave some
things behind and pick up other things. 
Appreciating all my blessings.

In awareness of the precious and fleeting
moments of life. 

Acknowledging my physical limits.
Breathing through  gratitude.

Be a blessing to someone today.

Happy 13th

Happy Anniversary honey... sneaky I know.

In just a few weeks it will be our wedding anniversary.
What a blessing.



Continuing a reading journey with 
Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful and Live Intentionally. 

A philosophy of:

It was simply about saying yes, being generous,
speaking up, loving more, trusting myself,
and slowing down.


I am sure there is a bit of thrifting in living more intentionally.

Jumping to touch the sky.
See Jacob in red...

Patiently waiting to squirt your brother with water.

Kindred Spirit

There are few joys greater then finding a kindred spirit.
I am attracted like a moth to the flame.
An awakening of the soul.

Truly there is a burning desire in my heart.
A thirst in my soul for the rare kindred.

You recognize the kindred through
a sense of calm.
Profound recognition.
 
Happiness is brief and fleeting but joy
is recognizable.  Memories held by the soul.

The soul recalls memories of the subconscious.
Transcending time.

Seeking vintage and the memories of my soul.

Happy List Sampler

 Amy Power's Big Picture workshop project completed.

1. Opportunity
2. Gardening
3. Easter (4)
4. Cupcake
5. Tea
6. Celebrating
7. Picnics on the Beach
8. Jacob
9. Artichokes (Half Moon Bay)
10. Flowers (4)
11. daisy
12.  Baby Holly
13.  Children (4)
14.  Happy Birthday
15.  Sewing
16.  Luck of the Irish
17.  Love
18.  Queen's Crown
19.  Ball Jars
20.  Nicholas
21.  Umbrella
22.  Mark
23.  The Widow's Broom (book)
24.  Marriage
25. Longaberger baskets and thread

Spiritual Leadership

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; 

the most massive characters are seared with scars. 

                                                            

                                                                      Kahlil Gibran

 

If there's a message to pass to people,
I'd say that it's normal to be different from others,
it's good to differ from one another,
and we'd better look at ourselves first before
we start criticizing someone who looks, acts,
speaks different or has a different skin color.
I'd like to continue, even at a minimal level,
what John Lennon had started.
 If I could do as much as a bit of what he did,
if I could contribute to the elimination of hatred among us,
that would be a great deal.

                                                             Johnny Depp

Weekend Wrap

It would be such a comfort to have our home situated for the fall.
Clean and tidy with everything in its place.
But first there is homework.
Homemaking.
Cuddling with the kids.
Listening to tall tales from their imaginations.


Then there is the small matter of creating a collage.
Piecing an image from magazine clippings.

Windows remind me of my favorite
European scenes.  Windows, wallpaper, rose arbors,
faded colors and iron gates to secret gardens.

 


Scrubbed from top to bottom.



A dresser scarf as a valence.  See the little plate...its a
cross stitched basket pattern.  I will be looking for stitchery
type china patterns. 

Jacob irons.

My happy list. Amy Power's workshop.

Holly ironing. 

Art in a Can

Have I shared how much I
LOVE spray paint?

Spray paint has transformative power.
Mystic. 

A can of spray paint is affordable medium
requiring a bit of talent and little else.
Graffiti is just one art form of the mighty
paint can.  Graffiti as an element of crime
disturbs me.

Graffiti as a crime is a waste of public funding
better used to educate, to inspire artist expression or
or release activist impulses.  If these impulses are not
contained and developed into something positive
then what you get is the explosion of
unwanted angry graffiti. 

A can of magic as fine art.
Check out the artist visiting near you at
Aaron Brothers Road Trip.

“case” is the alias of Andreas von Chrzanowski
an artist from the German graffiti scene
who was born and raised East Germany.

These photos do not do his work justice.

Watching adults create validates the tangible life of artists.
And ignites fires in growing souls.

 

 

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. 

For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand,

while imagination embraces the entire world, 

and all there ever will be to know and understand.”

                                                         Albert Einstein

Holly art reflected as a puddle but it is Count Dracula.

Whispers from the Lord

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly,
but rarely admit the changes it has gone
through to achieve that beauty.”
― Maya Angelou

Cabinet Feet

Words take my breath away.

I hear the Lord speaking to me.
He leads me to places, bible verses, books,
messages, and music to stretch my imagination.
Delighting my soul.

He lead me to a man who healed my heart and
shares my spirit.

Multitasking...painting and magazine appreciation

My platform will become a canvas

In art, as in marriage, it is the evolution, the
growth of spirit through exploring.

This little cabinet from Tim Holtz's
Idea-ology collection has been
in process since our last wedding anniversary.
Nearly a year in process.  Still more to do.