Gardening

I've never been much of a gardener; although I love flowers, herbs, and vegetable gardens.  I have always been intimidated by gardening, but thanks to two events, I am loosing my fear of this.

The first event was a couple of years ago when my friend, Yuki, came and helped me start a flower garden.  Yuki is my daughter, Laura's, mother-in-law and is Japanese.  She has been in American much of her adult life.  It was amazing to see her clean out the area we were going to use.  She asked for a butcher knife instead of a cultivator and wielded that as anyone else would have done with a garden implement...but better and faster.  I wish I had a video of that.  We planted several hostas, iris, day lilies, and a nandena bush she brought.  None of those died...a first for me.  I added other plants later.  Last year I bought several flats and planted; some made it, some did not.

The second event was coerced by my friend, Marlene.  I am now a member of the Tyne Meade Garden Club.  I planted a few herbs this fall, and my rosemary plant is still alive.  I am loosing my fear of "what if it does not look like it should".  I am just loving planting and seeing the growth and blooms.

This year there will be a third event since I won the door prize at our ladies retreat of gardening with Marge.  I have already ordered lots of herbs to plant with her.  We may do a bit of tomato planting, too.

Today I cleaned out the beds.  I was digging up a dead mum, when I noticed that underneath all that dead foliage, new life had begun.  I quickly replanted and just broke off the dead growth and enjoyed seeing the new creation.  Underneath the dead day lilies, new ones were bursting through the earth and the same with the hostas.  I found a few new iris shoots.  It made me think of God's word about as we shed this old body, we will be made new.  I hope in the eternal life I will be as lovely as the new growth I discovered today.

Here's hoping you will be surprised by nature and reminded of God's gifts.

Home Time

Today was a rare day...the second consecutive day that I was home.  Oh, I did some grocery shopping and paint shopping at Home Depot, but I did not drive in to Nashville all day.  Glorious!

Yesterday I got all the laundry done and the beds changed, so today I started painting a yellow coffee table to put in my booth at Gaslamp tomorrow.  I started with a green, but did not really like it.  I found a limestone color that is white with just a very minute hint of green.  It is going to be fabulous!

I am cooking a pot roast for dinner with onions, carrots, and potatoes.  Had I run around Nashville today, there would not have been time for that.  The aromas are blending and making our house smell very homey...true comfort food on many levels.

I think I will plan to be more intentional about my time around home.  The benefits really outweigh the negatives.  Wednesdays will probably be my day to go in and get the things accomplished that need to be tackled.  Tomorrow I am cooking at my Dad's for us.  I think he is excited about that.  Maybe we will do that a lot on Wednesdays before church.

Wishing you time to savour enjoying your homes.

Sharing Faith & Sisterhood

Oh, what a marvelous week-end I have spent with sisters new and old at Otter Creek!  We were inspired once again by the purpose God has for each of us in Psalm 136...that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Does that not just give you chills to think on the magnitude of that statement?

We are a diverse group to be sure.  We ranged in ages from 19 to 87 with a multitude of talents and love for God and one another.  Today we were treated to a skit by two of our ladies whom I had not known to be such a riot as they delved into their detective/undercover findings that we are a "cult" with many reasons to back up their suspicions.  Some of us were laughing so hard that our sides hurt and tears rolled down our cheeks.

Next we got more serious as a panel of women with different life challenges shared how their prayers had touched God and given them strength as they faced each of their valleys.  From rebellious teens to divorce to dealing with disappointments to loosing a child to breast cancer...each shared from their heart.  There were not many dry eyes as each of us put our selves in their shoes and saw our own vulnerabilities in some ways similar to them.  We were one with them as they opened their wounds afresh and kept testifying to a God who hears our prayers even if we do not know what to pray for...his spirit will groan for us.

That led to a time of self reflexion as well as encouragement and prayers for others.  What a way to climax such a time as this.

Last night I was able to join several in a much younger age group as they taught this "old dog" the new trick of Mexican Train Dominoes.  I think I will enjoy that game with our family...and as I do, I will think of them and all the things we shared.

I wish you love and sisterhood throughout your life...but most of all...a closer walk and talk with God.

To Market..To Market...But No Fat Pig

For the first time in about 18 years I visited the Atlanta Market to add a few lines to my Antique/Vintage booths.  Has it changed or what?  Instead of walkways with catwalk type grating, there is carpet every where.  Instead of 1 building, there are three connected with bridges over streets on many different floors.
Some of the old time vendors are no longer in business...well...my gift shop in Athens, TN is no longer in business either.

I explored several online catalogs on the Atlanta Market site.  I signed up with many to be a buyer.  That made it so much easier when I got to them to place my orders.  Since I call my business Chez Elle, I am adding some French Country accessories that should be fun: two tiered wire shelves, wire shelves with hooks, linen dish towels with black stripes, linen dish towels with black Eiffel Tower, boxes that look like books with Eiffel Tower and some with French postcard decor. 

I am also adding some eco products to attract that market: coasters that are made from recycled corrugated boxes with a finish to make them last up to a year.  I got several colors of pineapple design and one of cowboy boots.  They also had some great burlap table runners which I ordered.

I will be getting some iron that I hope will be as attractive to customers as it was to me.  That is always the hardest thing, to make choices that will attract buyers to my booths.  This type of product seems to continue on the path of many buyers who come into Gaslamp.  I have worked with them for over a year, and I have been able to participate in their selections of treasures to carry home.

When everything comes in and is staged I will post pictures, so stay tuned!

Here's wishing you success in your treasure hunting!

Chicks to Later Day

It seems as if my life is a contradiction so many times.  My Book Club, The Church Chicks, met today.  We had a delightful time discussing our latest book, Whistling Dixie in a Nor'easter by Lisa Patton.  She is not the Lisa Patton of Channel 2, but she has the personality to be loved by all who hear her speak. Many of us were able to experience this because she visited us at the end of our time together.  Those of us who were still there had our picture made with her.  She is the lovely lady 2nd from left on  first row.  I love all of these friends.  We may not always agree on our spin of a book, but the discussion is interesting and each person adds a new layer to what we have read.

Many of the friends above are in a different group (wherein lies the contradiction), The Later Day Saints.  Oh, do we enjoy all the activities that our fearless leader, Marilyn, plans for us.  She is enjoying a month at the beach, so...this Sunday I will fill in for her at our Ministry Fair. We hope that others will join us in the fellowship and service that we combine.  We do lunches one a month for Room in the Inn and dinner once a quarter for Hospital Hospitality House.  We have done so many interesting field trips from Adams, TN to Belle Meade Mansion.  During these times we always have opportunities to develop deeper friendships as well as eat at some really great restaurants.  We are bringing back our Salt Shaker get togethers this year.  We have several host a dinner, plan the menu, then different people of the group bring food and break bread together.  Since we will gather 3 times this year, the groups will have a separate dynamic each time we meet.

I like the ability to float from being a "Chick" to a "saint".  In both of these arenas, I see God's Spirit emanating from those I encounter.

May you treasure the moments you spend with friends you love and along the way see God shine through.

Heros and Hope

My friend Deb is coming once again today to Vanderbilt to have tests to see if she can have another stem cell transplant.  We did the first a couple of years ago.  I say we because I was given the honor of being her 24/7 care giver.  I learned so much during this time.  I was allowed to watch as they harvested her stem cells.  It did not seem nearly as scary as I would have thought, but she did get very cold.  I guess when all of your blood leaves your body and is run through a centrifuge, it does make one a bit chilled.  This second time she will have the self transplant and within 90 days, come again with a sister who is a donor match to get more healthy stem cells.  But....her multiple myoloma must be wiped clean before she can do it.  Last time it did not seem as hard to contain as it has been this time.  She is my hero for her fight in this battle!

I was speaking with a customer whom I have become friendly with last week at Gaslamp.  Her sister-in-law at a young age is battling the same disease.  I had shared with her about my friend Deb when she first told me the news.  We together agreed that heros are made by the sheer determination and grit they posses as they battle such horid situations.

Heros do not have to fight in an overseas combat zone.  They live in a combat zone daily as they must pump their bodies with chemo or radiation.  Often they loose their hair, their appetite, and their energy.  They inspire those of us who watch them march with a battle plan for victory!  Some are not given much hope, but they still do everything possible to overcome this villian, Cancer.

Many of us do not know how to approach someone with this dreaded disease.  I remember when my mom was first diagnosed; she told me that she was surprised (and a bit hurt) that most of her friends had not called her.  The best way I have found is to just be honest and tell the person that we love them and are in their corner with prayer.  Somehow knowing that so many are lifting them up in prayer seems to give them the determination to keep charging the enemy.  It gives them the hope they need.

Praying that today you will be able to see the true heros and give them hope.

Sweet Sunday

For the first time in ever so long, I am not working today.  I am not out of town either.  What a blissful day!

I lost the 18 month old class that I taught for 6 months.  I miss them so much as I always miss each group.  But today we were blessed with six new little ones to love and watch as they grow and develop.  I get to teach them their very first class...Noah's Ark which they will know as well as I when they leave.  I had a sweet little girl in my last class who was the most verbal I have ever had.  She could tell me ahead of time what came next in class.  I missed her today, but she stopped by to see me.  I get to teach them to pat their Bibles....and that their own version of the Bible tells them that God loves (name). 

I truly understand why Jesus said  to let the children come to Him, why we have to become as children to enter His Kingdom.  Such innocence and trust of those who are fortunate enough to work with them.  Today they had a bit of a learning curve to become accustomed to us, but even amidst the tears, they are so very precious to me.  What a gift God has given to me with each baby that comes into my class.  I love them all!

Wishing you happy gifts from our Father and the innocence to trust Him!

Muffin Mania

I have volunteered to take 90 mini muffins to share tomorrow morning at Otter Creek.  I think there may be a few more than that.  I dreamed last night that I had forgotten to make them and take them.  Guess what I did first thing this morning...yes, I baked two kinds of mini muffins...one standby given by my friend Sandra that a double or triple depending on how many I make.

I did not have any sweet muffins that I wanted to try...so, I got out my trusty Otter Creek Cookbook to look for something that I already had in my pantry.  Alas, it failed me this time, except, I found a peach roll up.  I decided to try the basic dough recipe and add my own ingredients.  Voila!  The best "Almost Oatmeal Cookies Muffins" (my name for my creation)

Today I am sharing both recipes.

Country Ham Mini Muffins via Sandra McCarthy

1 cup Self Rising Flour
1/2 cup milk
4 Tlbs. mayonnaise
1 Cup chopped country ham (I do this in my mini chopper with leftovers)

Stir well and drop by teaspoon in  greased mini muffin tins.  Cook 14 minutes @ 425.  Yields 24 mini muffins.

Needless to say, Dennis cannot get enough of these.  I hope he will like the following.

Almost Oatmeal Cookies Muffins

2 Cups Self Rising Flour
1 Cup Oatmeal
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 Cups Milk
2/3 Cup Splenda for Baking Brown Sugar
1 Cup Craisins
1 Cup chopped Walnuts
1 Tsp. Cinnamon

Stir all together and drop by teaspoon in greased mini muffin cups.  Bake 10 minutes @ 425.  Yields 54 mini muffins.

Wishing you joy in discovering new recipes.

Pondering

Today I finished reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult.  It pulled me in from the first few pages.  I did not see the movie, but to me a book is so much richer since the characters share their thoughts.  I must admit that I hated the ending!  The 13 year old who won emancipation from donating a kidney to her sister was not supposed to have died in a car accident on the way from her trial. 

Life sometimes gives us curve balls, too.  Just today, even though it has been a few years since my Mom went to her glory, I have found myself wanting to carry on a conversation with her about things in general.  She would have told me that she was happy that I have dealt with my Type 2 Diabetes and lost over 32 lbs in the last year and 1/2.  She would agree with me that Elle is one of the most precious little girls she has ever known, except she is equal to how we loved and still love Laura.

 Reality calls me back, although in my mind it could still be possible.  "With God, all things are possible."  Who knows, maybe we did span the heavens and our thoughts found each other.  I like to think that.

Here's wishing you the ability to delve beyond the probable and imagine the limitless possibilities God gives us.

A Wonderful Ending and Beginning

This past week-end we continued our new tradition of spending New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in a secluded cabin in Townsend with our daughter, Laura, Louis, her husband, and Elle.  On New Year's Day our grandson Christian joined us to eat ham, black-eyed peas, and greens.  We sat around the table and enjoyed being together once again.  After KP duty, we were off to the outlet malls in Pigeon Forge.  Of course we realized that no one else had that idea as Louis drove around to find a parking space.  Everyone took off in their own direction with a plan to meet back at the car at a given time.  All of us found bargains that we thought we could not live without except Christian, who held on to his money for something of significance.

We went back to the cabin for a short stop and then on to Maryville to eat at Christian's restaurant of choice, a Mexican restaurant that had a bit different menu from those we frequent around here.  We all enjoyed once again the comraderie of being together as a family.  After dinner it was time for Christian to go back home; back to the cabin we went.

Yesterday Dennis and I meandered getting home again.  We saw some snow falling as we came upon the Cumberland Plateau.  It did not deter us from stopping at the VF Outlet Mall in Crossville.  Again, we found things we did not know we really needed at wonderful sale prices.  The lure of the hunt is just too much for us.  After a lunch of soup and salad at Longhorn in Cookeville, we mananged to come home to be greeted by our pups as well as our two grand-pups.  They all love us unconditionally.

Today has been quiet as we have been drinking coffee and reading while the doggies snuggle up to us.  There is warmth in our home even though outside it is so cold.  It brings me to such thankfulness that I am here and such prayer for those who do not have warm homes and hearts to comfort them.  Lord, make me an instrument of your service to others in some way!

Wishing you laughter, love, and compassion for others as we navigate 2012!