FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW ---

At our church's Thanksgiving dinner a couple of Sundays ago, we sang "The Doxology" as a blessing for our food.

Growing up and into our adulthood, this praise was sung every Sunday during church service.  It seems we never sing it anymore, which makes me sad.

It is such a beautiful melody dating back to the 1500s with lyrics from the 1600s.

So, it was with joy that at our dinner we all joined hands, and all 100 people sang this to bless our food.  Everyone seemed to pull the words from out of their memory bank, singing harmony and without accompaniment.  It was beautiful.

The words say it all, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow."

May you have a blessed, thankful, and joyful Thanksgiving.

LITTLE BOXES

Occasionally, I get the urge to make something with no eventual purpose -- I just want to make something!  I've been seeing some fabric covered boxes around, and decided to try my hand at it.  No pattern; just figuring it out as I go.
This little project appealed to my frugal sense.  All I had to purchase were the two wooden boxes and the smaller cardboard box from Michael's (under $5 for all three).  I have this great stash of fabric scraps all organized by color and type saved from 50 years of sewing for just such a project as this.

The best part for me is to see the PROCESS of this ----

turn into this ----

In my years of teaching quilt making, I discovered there are 'process' people and there are 'product' people.  'Process' people thoroughly enjoy the act of making something, being creative.  Sometimes they don't care very much about the finished product or its use after creation.  'Product' people, on the other hand, have something in mind for the end result.  They know they are going to give it away, use it themselves, or sell it.  'Product' people sometimes get frustrated during the creative process -- they want to get done and move on to the part that gives them the most satisfaction: the after-life of the product.  But 'process' people enjoy every hurtle they encounter during creation; and consider it all as a welcome challenge.  Once they are done, they are ready to move on to something else and forget the product.  Of course, there are the rare 'combination' people that enjoy it all.

I am definitely a 'process' person as I enjoy every aspect of the act of creating, but not so much the after-life of the product.  

So, I have my same problem again. What in the world am I going to do with three little boxes now that the fun is over?

Are you a 'process', 'product', or 'combination' person?

I'm joining the following:
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
Be Different Act Normal for Show and Tell Saturdays
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
The Dedicated House for Anything Blue Friday

THE MANY FACES OF CAITLIN

When she is rich and famous and writes her tell-all book about friends and family, she can write a chapter about "We were so poor, my 75-year-old grandmother had to take my Senior pictures with her 'point and shoot' camera".  

I was hesitant when Caitlin first asked me to take her Senior pictures; but she kept saying, "We can do this."  She has good editing skills, so I knew she could remove an antenna pole growing out of her head if necessary.  I do have a decent eye for detail, plus lots of practice with the zillion pictures I have taken of her beginning with the day she was born.

She really hated to spend such a large amount of her hard-earned summer money for a professional photographer, as there are a lot of extra expenses during a Senior year in high school.  I'm not knocking the pros -- they really do earn every cent plus have an investment in equipment -- it is hard work, believe me! 

So, we ventured out.  She and I really are pansies (actually prissy) out-of-doors.  We enjoy looking at nature -- just don't want to interact with it too much, as we don't like to get dirty, step in unknown stuff, etc.  And, we did encounter wind, bugs, cactus, bear scat, and dirty rocks and logs.  However, we did see a lot of friendly people out and around.  At first, I thought they were smiling because Caitlin is so adorable; but then I thought they must be laughing at the old lady's antics trying to take the pictures. 

Now don't you laugh at that image in your head (but we laughed a lot). 

Over three different months, we did four different photo shoots -- first at two different parks in a neighboring big city; then in the countryside; on our local river walk; and at the historic city hall building where her Papa Bob worked for so many years.  She and I had spent many a time there waiting so we could take Papa out to lunch for a treat after pre-school.
And now, she is all grown-up!

 I used my trusty Sony Cyber-shot HX5V camera.  This little 'point and shoot' has photographed everything from the Eiffel Tower in Paris to cathedrals in Germany to shrines in Japan.  So why not Senior pictures?

And, Caitlin was right -- "We can (and did) do this!"  

I hope in years to come when she looks at these pictures, she remembers the fun time we had in this little adventure together.

These are some of the out-takes ----  (It's hard to stay focused ALL of the time.)

 Caitlin has given me permission to show off her many faces. Thanks for indulging this grandmother during this very long post! 

I'm joining the following:
Nancherrow for Fridays Unfolded
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
Be Different Act Normal for Show and Tell Saturdays
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Kathe with an E for You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Imparting Grace for Grace at Home

A BIT OF CABIN STYLE

 I've always wanted a log cabin in the mountains, but that isn't going to happen.  We are happily settled in a cottage on the edge of a town with a view of the mountains.  I still get the urge for a little touch of that log cabin of my dreams, however.

 We've had this twig table for a few years, but it has always resided on our screened-in porch.  I decided to switch things around and use it for a coffee table in the living room this winter.

 With a few pine cones, it is a reminder of the mountain log cabin of my youth.  I was raised on the plains of southeast Colorado where it gets quite hot in the summer.  Before air conditioning was common, people who were able went to the mountains for a couple of weeks in the summer to cool off.  I often accompanied my Grandmother on her yearly trip in August to Cuchera, Colorado.  What fond memories I have of those trips to that log cabin.

  There is always a bright side -- if I lived in a log cabin in the mountains, there would be snow on the ground by now; and I wouldn't be able to enjoy the flowers that are still blooming in our lower-elevation garden!  

I'm joining the following:

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

Nancherrow for Fridays Unfolded

The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday

Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at our Home

Knick of Time for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday

Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays

Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday