January 27, 2012
Today is the day... I've been waiting for this day FOREVER!!! We are loaded up and heading to Camp Blanding this afternoon to get everything ready for our weekend retreat.
I had such a hard time deciding what in the heck to take to work on! So... I have a couple of hand projects and two quilts to work on... (yea right... like I'm going to get all of this done...ha!). Since this is a 5 day venture... I surely don't want to run out of things to do! (that will never happen...not in my entire lifetime...)
I found this wonderful story about a little girl and her dog... I just had to share it with all of you. It's a little lengthy...but so worth reading.
Our 14
year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old
daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She
asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God
would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these
words: Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is
with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her
as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to
play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her
You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith We put the
letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to
God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several
stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of
stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it
into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had
gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, there was a
package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an
unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called,
‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had
written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of
Abbey & Meredith and this note: Dear Meredith, Abbey arrived safely in
heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey
isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your
heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I
don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you
in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank
you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and
sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for
you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By
the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love. Love, God…
Do you know what these are? They are called Tallow berries. They grow on trees... I MUST tell you this story... Several years ago we lived in a house off Old St. Augustine Road... I soon discovered one morning that I had 3 of these trees growing on the side of my house. Now.. let me tell you... I was so EXCITED!!
I've loved these things forever and could never find them. They look so cute in my primitive decorating. Well.... I kept watching the biggest tree... until the "popcorn" (the nickname for these berries) was just the right size... nice and white. Then I wake up one morning and it's raining.. I knew it was time to cut the berries when I came home from work and let them dry out in the garage.
Soooooooooooooo ... I came home from the store... pulled in the driveway and noticed the yard fellows had been there... grass looked wonderful! Then I noticed... on the side of the street - clippings from my Tallow Tree! LOTS OF CLIPPINGS!!! I was SCREAMING IN THE CAR... NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..... I flew out of the car - whipped open the fence gate to the back yard... and there it was... a NAKED TREE - my berries were ALL GONE. I know this is silly... but I just sobbed! (call me a little crazy)... sniffle... no more popcorn... it was all in the street in little pieces. If I would have had a GUN.. the yard man would have been DEAD!
The sad part of this story is... the cutting of the tree shocked it so much... it NEVER bloomed again! Isn't that a sad, sad story? (((sniffle))) It still makes me tear up! Oh well... on to better things!
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Speaking of better... check out this COWBOY!!!
This... now this makes me forget all about my Tallow Berries ! HA... What a fine speciman of a man...don't you say? I think you should all put this as a screen saver on your computer! HA!
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Look at this scrumptious chili recipe!!! OMG... wouldn't this be wonderful when the weather gets a little colder? LOVE IT!!!
Sweet, yummy cornbread cooked on top of your chili! OMG.. .I can feel my tummy rumble. Here is the link with the instructions. Chili and Cornbread
I gotta get me some of these jars!!! Have you noticed how popular they are lately. Pinterest has tons of websites and recipes with Mason Jars. I've even made a new 'board' with these kinds of recipes. Such fun!! It would be fun to have a luncheon for some friends with this chili and cornbread!!
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3 New Sewing Projects I have planned
(when to finish them is the issue)
I love this one... I'm going to make it with wool appliques! This pattern is from Joined at the Hip. It will soon be on my cutting table. I'm making it a sample for my B-a-a-a-d Girls club. I think everyone would have fun making it. It's called Sunflower Baskets!!
Here's another one....
"Spring is Here". I thought the center flowers would look cute from wool too!!! These projects are nice for my dining room table and are quick to construct. I like quick!!!
Then... I found this adorable 'heart'......
Isn't it adorable... I don't know what I'm going to do with it.. .but you know... I don't care. Wait a minute... I just had a thought. It would look adorable propped up on the shelf I have hanging above a quilt. hhhmmm.... maybe I'd better rehang a new quilt... a RED and WHITE one... ok... I know have a vision! I can feel redecorating in my bones... all because of this silly little heart. Help me... help me.....
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Well... I do have some computer work and a couple of pattern orders to fill... so I'm passing on your tip of the day for getting organized. This one is simple...
Go through your bathroom towels and washcloths. Dump the ones that are 'on the edge of being nasty'... you know... the ones that you've had since your wedding day!! Put them in your rag pile... watch the sales and treat yourself to some wonderfully, fluffy, new towels !!!
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Chat with you soon!
Gloria
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