Pumpkin Cottage

Pumpkin Cottage
sit and visit a spell

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Bible Journaling

Marginalia - Marginal notes or embellishments (as in a book)

How cute is her hair?
















For as long as I can remember, I have been
writing in the margins of
Bibles and in textbooks. 
It appalls some of my friends but I can't
resist: it helps me retain what I learn.
It's a way to deepen my understanding,
to easily recall poignant concepts,
related history, and definitions of words.

I am a auditory and visual learner. 
Listen and rewriting
verses ensures they stay with me.
Simply rewriting notes/verses deepens the experience of study.

So when I learned of the journaling Bible it was love at first
sight.  Right now I am taking an online course with Stephanie Ackerman,
Bible doodler extraordinaire.  The Illustrated Faith blog link is
on my blog roll.














This morning I found my first Bible verse,
isn't is amazing how the
perfect verse always presents itself?

You have taken up my cause, O Lord;
you have redeemed my life.  You have seen the wrong 
done to me.  Uphold my cause.   Lamentations  3:58-59 NIV

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Southern California Quilt Run

Whatcha doing for the weekend, they ask?
The Quilt Run, confused looks, then I explain.
The Get-Along has been doing the run for years.
We are all creatives, crafters  - of all types
are, for the most part, a welcoming group,
along the way there are all kinds of fresh
ideas, decorating loveliness, restaurants and
thrift stores in the surrounding areas.

Here's a sampling:

 The Quilter's Faire

Ceiling 
























Monica's Quilt and Bead





































Quilter's Cocoon



































Isn't this a great idea,  the Pumpkin Cottage is seeking a wine
bottle holder at the thrift stores we visit. 
























More tomorrow.....

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Happy Father's Day

“Shame is the lie someone told you about yourself.”
                                
                                                             Anais Nin

This is the truth.  Shake off the lie.
Make your own truth and live it.

























The most important man is a girl's life
is her Daddy.  My father set the tone
for how I would allow a man to treat
me.
























I kept going until I found the
man who won't hit me, won't put me down,
who would care for me as my body
failed and be a full partner.
























Happy Father's Day

Saturday, June 13, 2015

What's Keeping You Up?














The most beautiful people we have known
are those who have known defeat, known suffering,
known struggle, known loss,
and have found their way out of those depths.

Reading Elizabeth Kubler-Ross'
On Death and Dying
changed my life for the better.

Just recently, Uncle Joe and I were
considering all the people who really want to live
and die too soon.  We also considered others
who would easily trade places because
they are ready to go. Life is a mystery of ironies.

We were raised to consider these things, to not
be scared of death, to understand death
is the normal course of life. 


4Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

                                     Psalm 98:4-6

For me, there is still a lot to be done, 
God willing.  Chronic pain ignored.
As long as I can watch my children 
bloom and hold my husband's hand.  
As long, as there is an ocean, 
a foggy day, dew in the morning, 
thrift stores to wander, 
vintage and antique venues to visit, 
crafts to make, 
or a seeds to plant, I am good.



Sunday, June 7, 2015

Creative Soul Day Trip

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way
which thou shalt go:
I will guide thee with mine eye.

                                        Psalms 32:8

 
Oh yes, we are blessed.























 
 Vintage Marketplace

The Get-Along has been attending since
the beginning.  Eight-one vendors this month.





Find the two at back counter.




















Lovely venue, something for every taste. and loads of creative
souls.

Be blessed. 

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Truth or Dare

Truth.  I don't ever know how much to share
here. The most important thing I can share is
my faith.  I am a follower of Jesus Christ,
I am a fallen human, trying to be a better person
every day brings new challenges, on this tightrope
that is my life. 

My personal relationship with Jesus started
in my 13th year, sure I was baptized as a
baby in the Roman Catholic Church but
I invited Jesus into my heart during my 8th
grade preparation for Confirmation.  For me,
God is love and this knowledge is my enlightenment. 

I don't care where you find your higher calling.
It doesn't matter to me what you pray or that
you don't pray.  I just know this is the Way
for me.  I feel blessed my mother shared her
beliefs by how she behaved not what she said.

Nothing disturbs me more than the folks
with a Harvest bumper sticker on their cars,
giving the bird.  I have listened to a variety of ministers,
including Greg Laurie, and I know he would
encourage a better example to non-believers. 

The late Steve Mays'  ministry brought me back
from a period of darkness and hard pruning.

Even though I consider myself a progressive,
I listen to the very conservative teaching of
the late Dr. J. Vernon McGee, his Bible Bus
will get you through the Bible in 5 years.

Lately, with the passing of Pastor Mays,
I have been listening to Dr. Tony Evans.

None of these man would support a woman
in the pulpit or marriage equality but they
feed up the word of God and I am hungry.


I hope what I share doesn't turn anyone away
but this is my truth. Shrouded in shame and
feelings of inadequencies, I kept returning to the
well of living waters.   

Holly's 2015 Vision Board

 























There have been plenty of occasions when
there is no where to go but to my knees.
Go to your knee's, He'll help you stand.
When my chronic pain challenges my ability
to reason.  Mind over matter, nothing works
but the meditative power of  prayer.

Helplessly witnessing my loved ones walk throughthe valley of death.  Believing in an everlasting
life is what has gotten me through.

Celebrating the sanctity of marriage for all.

 Lifetime Moments: Officiating at Weddings























Just a regular gal blessed beyond my dreams.
I am a big supporter of living and letting live.
In support of planting seeds of kindness,
marriage equality, diversity and recognizing
that regardless of where you live, mamas are
mamas. 
























I believe prayer, gardening and art
save lives.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Patchwork, Santa Ana, California






















Patchwork Show held in the lovely
Arts Village in downtown Santa Ana. 

Fun places to eat and people watch.























The caption says, "What's with the long
face?"
















Roses and spring flowers made out of egg cartons.

Charming and friendly vendors. 














This was a must stop, my maternal grandmother,
Olinda, always kept air plants so we had to have one.




















There were awesome chocolates from les beaux chocolat.
We purchased: salted  caramel truffle,
vegan pomegranate truffle,
passion fruit truffle, and vegan chili truffle.


Fun so much fun.