Sunday Rest Time is Best Time

Around the house today at the homestead is a little cleaning with a couple of tea breaks. Much, much needed as it's been months since I had the energy or time to do so. Getting it back in order for guests.

The curtains and linens are all washed up and fresh.

Friends are truly the best therapy. This is true.

But sometimes the introvert in me calls for alone time to recharge my batteries for the next week.

Pick a cup and your favorite flavor of tea.

The kettle is on

Miss Abbie is saving my place for me

and the needles are at rest to enjoy the day.

It's hot and humid here but the view outside is nice and green. Thank goodness for air conditioning and good window views.

and enjoy the quiet if you can to get some much needed recharge-rest for the week.

I hope you are enjoying this Sunday day of rest wherever you are. And most of all are at peace, happy, and healthy.

Matthew 11:28  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"

A Mysterious Tiny Stitching Sampler Framed and Birthday Box Goodies

Making a final box of handmades for a special friend's birthday. 

I unfortunately couldn't attend her special 90th party as it was in June when I was having complications after my shoulder surgery. However, she knows I am sending her a gift. And I hope to see her soon when I am able.

 Her daughter and I were very close, like sisters growing up.

We reconnected the week of daddy's funeral and I was so glad we did. I miss the family alot.

Her mother was like a second momma to me growing up. She had all the attributes I would strive for in being a momma. She listened many times on her front porch and we would talk for hours.

She baked the best cakes I've ever eaten in my life. She was just as much a friend with a listening ear after school and at that time I so needed.

She was truthful, gave much needed wisdom throughout my teen years and the nicest ever. Her and her husband had 5 children. The first 4 boys and then a girl.

Her daughter was a bit younger than me but we grew up together like sisters.

I felt so honored to be invited to her 90th birthday party. I was so disappointed I couldn't make the 4 hour drive.

I still am in contact with her daughter again and we just started talking like we never had lost connection. I guess you could say she is one of Kindred Spirits.

I knitted these up at different times.

Today while rambling through my finishes but not yet "finished" in my stitching studio, I found a tiny one over one sampler I made in 2011. I can't remember the designer. Maybe one of you can jog my memory so I can give credit where credit is due.

I wish I also knew the fabric because it's a very pretty muted deep red.

I think it was supposed to be a pin keep because the other side of the pin keep I finished with the year 2011 (when my vision was better) was on the back also finished.

So I got a new frame from my stitching stash that I've had a while. It's about 2 x 3 in and framed it.

I thought it would be sweet to add to her box.

I have a knit scarf for the Fall and Winter, some local Shea butter soaps, 2 of the silk/bamboo facial cloths for the bath, and one all cotton dishcloth for the kitchen.

I tied them with sweet ribbon from my studio.

And added this framed piece I hope she will like.

I thought the frame was perfect. I believe this frame I got from Hobby Lobby for storage for finishes like this.

On the home front

Mr. Darcy and I have had a busy 10 or more days. About 2 weeks ago went to the eye doctor and had pain in my left one with glaucoma and a corneal problem. To make a long story short, I've been through 2 amniotic tissue transplants from 3 donors.

I had to go every day since then to the doctor for them to check it.

The second one placed because the area was not completely healed on Thursday.

This one didn't do well at all. My body I guess rejected it. By Thursday night hubby was calling the eye doc after hours and he drove from his house 2 hours away and met us at the clinic at 9pm. I had the most pain ever and couldn't tolerate any light at all without feeling like having electric shocks. Even sunglasses didn't help. I developed uveitis evidently. He removed the disc but had a hard time. My cornea was swollen and not getting oxygen. To a dark room with dilating drops twice a day for past 3 days until tomorrow. Also oral antibiotics, steroid eye drops (couldn't be helped even though making glaucoma not good), and dilating drops twice a day.

For the last 2 days, following all the medications and steroid drops, it's getting much, much better.

I can see the computer better with UV glasses though.

I'm so not a person to just lie down in a dark room but I had to.

I'm so glad I'm better. I hope tomorrow's visit I can stop dilating my eyes twice a day.

That is the second uveitis flare I've had. It's pretty much an autoimmune reaction. Was told to eliminate anything or anyone stressful 2 weeks ago when this started.

Working on that!

I hope to mail off this box tomorrow and get a good report from the eye doc.

I will probably he said have to go to a corneal specialist in Atlanta again for a check.

I think the worse part is losing vision in my left eye to be legally blind in it.

I'm so thankful I have 2 eyes.

Mr. Darcy has planned a much needed vacay for us soon. Hotel is booked.  He thinks I need a reprieve from alot of things happening at one time in the past year. 

I can't say I don't agree.

Just will make sure I pack a hat, sunglasses and my vitamins for energy!!!!!

I hope you are having a good Sunday and a healthy one.

I'm still listening to audio books all Ann of Green Gables. Audio version came in handy this past week.

To all my kindred spirits,

Jennifer

Unexpected Pops of Color

I don't know exactly who wrote this but it has a lot of meaning to me. 

Out of all the rainy days we have had lately a surprising pop of roses in my favorite colors and it reminds me that the simple things that can balance out some of the struggles we go through in life is real and a blessing. 

I hope today you find something pleasantly unexpected across your path that makes your heart sing.

My roses don't get the best of care much but they still surprise me with unexpected blooms that look so perfect in my imperfect garden of weeds.

What beautiful inspiration for selecting colors and fibers for our projects than nature itself.

With love for this Thursday,

Jennifer

Hope and Paying it Foward to Make a Difference

I haven't had time yet to really review this book but so far, it looks good. When I do, I will post about it.

A couple of things I picked up this week.

I went to the city this past Monday. Yep, it's a big day to go to the city when you are a country girl at heart!  I went to Joanne's crafts and rumbled around for probably 2 hours. I like to look at all the things in there.

They had quite a bit of knitting books. Very limited cross stitching though.

At last I found a really good book and grabbed a copy of Country Sampler magazine (quarterly favorite of mine) to check out.

While at the counter a young boy said, "oh you knit!"  I told him I was a novice but enjoyed both cross stitching and knitting. He said he was about to take a class on beginning knitting. 

I asked him if he had heard of Ravelry and he said no.

So I gave him the information because he had such excitement about going to his classes soon that I tried to give him hope for needlework. I told him that needlework of both kinds really helps stress and health in general. He was excited to go home and look through Ravelry.

The boy looked college age and although knitting or cross stitching is sometimes looked at by men or women as "feminine" things, there are some awesome and talented male knitters and cross stitchers who I appreciate so much.

I think the stigma is even worse in the South which is too bad because of all the benefits of creativity. I find the stitching and knitting community online to be a kind one in general.

The world needs alot more kindness today.

Families need more kindness.

Sometimes reading or listening to the world news (which I do not do alot of) is so daunting.

This is one reason why I listen to podcasts of cross stitchers and knitters alot and read blogs.

I rarely watch TV anymore. 

I'm reposting a freebie for you today. It's simple. I designed it in 2012.

You can use colors of choice.

If you stitch it up send me a pic and I will show your unique work how you interpreted the colors and why if you would like. 

Maybe you know of someone that really needs some hope right now. Someone who has given up.

Hopefully, you can share it with them. It may not solve all the problems but surprisingly so you never know how much our kindness influences someones' difficult situation.

Hope

copyright 2012

designer Feathers in the Nest

“Hope is the thing with feathers 

That perches in the soul 

And sings the tune without the words 

And never stops at all.”  

by Emily Dickinson

Till later,

Jennifer

The Present Moment---A True Present

There is something uplifting about water of any kind. This is the view on our back porch. On a nice, sunny day here in the North Georgia mountains, I could stare at it for a long time. The thick green in the trees at this time of year nearly obscures the view; however, it really helps frame it if I look at it in a more positive way.

The temps here this week have been awesome. If only the weather could stay like this, right?
I thought that one morning when it was in the 60's at night and 75-80 in the day with little humidity.

Then I remembered how could I really appreciate this so much if there were no changes to really cold, dark, humid weather? Icy cold weather?  In reality, I wouldn't. We are pretty much conditioned this way to ebb and flow with change because change is the constant in life.

It's kind of like when I was a teen growing up. In June our church always had the youth group go up to Ridgecrest, N.C for music week camp. I think of that every year at this time because attending those camps yearly instilled the love of the mountains in my heart. It took me until I was 37 to finally move to the North GA mountains but it was always a hope.

After living here for a good while now, I have to remember not to take the beauty of where I live for granted. I'm reminded each time I go back to South GA. I may not always live here in the mountains. We really don't know where our life journey will take us but for me right now at this moment, I can enjoy the beautiful weather, fresh air, and nature's beauty here.

Being the introvert that I am, living in a place like this has it's benefits for sure. But will God have me stay here forever? I'm not sure on that. However, as I look at the pond below our house, I'm reminded gently to live for the moment because that is what I have.

So I'm going to take the moment of today and as I do that I'm hearing birds of all kinds singing, reminding me that if God takes care of the birds He will certainly take care of me.

I hope you are enjoying this Saturday with whatever helps you feel at peace.

Jennifer

Almost Finished with Pretty Basic Shawl--free pattern

Almost to bind off now!!!!!!  I love knitting this shawl. Pretty Basic by Janina Kallio is a great free pattern on Ravelry that has enough interest for detail but not too hard for some TV knitting rows as well.

Yarn---- (Pink speckle)  The Homespun House (Molly in Germany)

colorway In Bloom/ from my stash since last February 2016 Valentines colorway

It is a fingering weight of 100% merino

The light green/sage yarn is from stash from about a year ago of which I had in mind to work with this particular pink yarn for contrast. You can find it here: https://www.yarn.com/products/manos-del-uruguay-alegria

in the colorway Celery, fingering weight 

I'm using a number 5 Addi turbo lace circular needles (my favorite)

my handy little notions pouch from my LYS

You can see the flecks of green in the pink yarn.

One thing different I'm doing this year is keeping/making a knitting journal. I know that Ravelry has a place to record but I'm liking to write my own including a little piece of each of the yarns used in it for remembrance.

I also added to my T pins for blocking a set of blocking wires. I found those on Amazon. I will be using this while blocking the project above and post on progress/review.

I hope  you had a great Valentine's Day!

I certainly did. I got an absolutely gorgeous bouquet of roses in my favorite colors and a caring husband for close conversation and sharing a meal.

This morning I am so grateful for all the things I have been blessed with. I count knitting and cross stitching and any expressive form of art a gift from God. To take a pause out of my day to remember that God made me with His own handiwork is amazing. 

Do you have some special things you treasure in your stitching stash?

What makes them special to you?

I am finishing a shawl called Pretty Basic by Janina Kallio on Ravelry. It is a free pattern and is simply that which the title says. However, there is room for modifying the pattern and is even encouraged by the designer. I like to have choices like that. 

I'm about to bind off. My goal for finishing this was Valentines Day but didn't quite meet that goal.

But I've cut myself a little slack knowing I have other things going on in my life that need attending and also I wanted to make sure it was "just right".

You know, God made sure we were "just right" when he made us and God has prepared us to do good works. He prepared this in advance!!!!

He has a plan for our life just as we have plans on how we want to knit up or stitch up a pattern..

The result is a beautiful work and is worth the extra time we spend to making it "just right".

As you go through your day, keep this verse in your heart. It will encourage you to know that your Maker already has a design of which we should take no worry but just have the commitment to follow through.

Enjoy your day!

Jennifer

City and Country: Busy and not Busy Days

On my trip to Washington DC back in April, one thing I loved was getting out after conference to walk for exercise and it was so lovely to walk on flat land. No hills or mountains but just walk.

The temps were perfect those days, with 70's in the evenings. Sunny and just beautiful.

Being the country girl that I am, I soaked up the city sites and sounds on my walk and walked to Chinatown and back.

I saw this beautiful church in the midst of the city on my walk. I wish I remembered the name of it but I didn't. I'm always eager by the end of the week to come home as this is what I know best ; however, I enjoy alot to visit the city and enjoy the busy streets and sites to see that are different to me. 

God is part of our lives, busy or not busy. He steadily knows our needs even before we ask them. 

Just remember God loves you and no matter what spot of the planet we are on, He gives us so much in which to be thankful for. 

I hope you have a peaceful Sunday!

Till later and singing,

"Jesus loves the little children 

All the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

they are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world!"

Budgeting and Simplifying for the New Year~~January

Over the past 4 months or so, I'm getting our house in some kind of order with a mission of organizing, and for this 3 story home, it's a big job. I made it a goal to simplify last year and this year is the same. I remind myself that things didn't get out of place all at one time, and it will take little bits every day to reach my goals.

I probably will make this maybe a weekly post as it's such a good topic and I've learned so very much from following some You Tuber's and websites for organizing, ideas for practical usage of items in your home, and how to budget (well that part came from my mama).

I sit down at the beginning of each month with my planner and write out what I want to accomplish at home and what needs to be done versus what I would like to do. In the past couple of years, it's mostly what needs to be done and occasionally I can do what I like to do as well.

Without a budget, a home generally does not function well. There have times in my life where I didn't really write out a budget, but I could tell you at any given time, the numbers that usually go out of the household budget. For some people or most, it doesn't work as well. I've been through times in my life, I didn't know where groceries were coming from. I've been through times where I didn't have to worry about it. I've been through alot and learned alot from bumps in the road of life.


Here are the factors that I consider when I look at the year in general:

1. if you own a home, no matter what they are, there will be basic home maintenance. If the home is not maintained, you will end up in the long run paying more for repairs. If you or your spouse can do the repairs yourselves, this saves a ton of money.
2. when planning a monthly budget, focus on basics first. This is the bare-bones of what you have to pay to live in a survival mode. We all don't like to do that, but for planning this is crucial. Then you can categorize smaller items/bills that go out each month. It's really surprising when you look back and see what was spent and what was really unnecessary.
3. understand that life may take a complete turn around and jobs may be lost, a spouse's job may be lost, extended illness can happen, and Murphy's law does exist for a reason. Don't worry excessively about this. I've been through each of these and it seemed very doomed at the time but realize God will take care of you, He promises in His word. Pray.
4. January is the best time to look at the year forward. Set monthly goals that are generalized because nothing is worse than setting up too high of a goal and not achieving it. I personally write out in a journal to keep up, all the bills/needs for 3 months at the time and plan and regroup, every 2-3 months if things change.
5. Buy and carry with you, a daily/monthly large planner. If your phone works best to do this with app programs, then that is another way, but I know for myself, when I physically write something out and go back to look at it from day to day, I get more done. I am a list maker!
6. Use budget billing for utilities whenever it is possible. For example, electric bill and home gas bill and utilities can be averaged out by the company, and you pay the same regardless of the true bill throughout the year. This is a great way to budget.
7. Every month, on the large monthly calender 2 pages, write in the side bar, a goal for each month for home maintenance. For example, when filters need changing, oil in the car needs changing, and what to focus on each month.
8. Every day, on daily pages, write in your planner on Sundays what needs to be done for the week. This helps meet the overall monthly goal.
9. Be aware that some household items are on sale at different times of the year. Stock up when they are at the lowest. 
10. At the top of your monthly 2 page planning pages, write a positive affirmation, long or short in large writing so when you get discouraged, it helps you to stay focused on the positive.

These are just a few of the general things I do to plan for the year. Not all things can be predicted and life can change at a moment's notice, but I find that planning gives some sense of control in life and less surprise expenses come up because of not preventing them in the first place. I can thank my dad for making me this way. :)

January is practically coming to an end this week, so get those calenders and get a cup of tea and write out 12 positive affirmations at the top of each month. For me, I like to put scriptures or famous quotes I like at the top. 

Remember that what works for one person or family, may not work for you.  

Give yourself some creative space and time to design your life by taking the time to move forward and make some goals for the year!

I hope these suggestions are helpful. I'm working on some organizing projects and will post from time to time about repurposing items in the home.  Stay-tuned!

I will leave you with a positive affirmation for January!

How many sang that as they read it????  ;)

Our Perceptions

This picture could mean so many things to different people.

I love this picture. 

 What strikes you most when you first see this picture?

Is the girl praying or just watching out the window at bedtime?

Is she looking at the church or is it just a part of the background?

Is she watching someone leave or looking for someone to come home?

Is she comfy in her own bed or longing to go home?

I can think of so many things it could portray.

I think our life is alot like pictures. A glimpse in time that what some people think is one thing really means another to someone else.

That's probably a random, deep thought but just wanted to share.

Sleep tight,

Jennifer

A Sunshine Sunday

On this quiet Sunday morning, I'm thankful that God let me sleep over. I haven't in a very long time and needed it so much! Church though is skipped. Arghhhh!

 I woke up to the sun!!!!
 
We had several days last week of rain, cold and fog.
Oh, so dreary. But I started thinking in my commute with this deep fog one night, that God must give us some dreary, foggy cold days so that we can appreciate the sunny, bright ones more. 

Makes perfect sense to me because I, for one, sure do miss the sun, especially in the Winter time when that bone-chilling, ache is abound. Not good for arthritis and I have that.

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are on the planet Earth this morning and it will brighten your day up a bit. I know my mood is better with the sunshine. It's the source of our Vitamin D as well. 

I just finished a course on Vitamin D which was pretty detailed. I had to pick some topics to renew my Women's Health NP license and I chose, out of the 6, Vitamin D. I'm more aware of it now as Vitamin D is pretty good for your health, not just your bones. Alot of controversery in studies now surround the additional benefits of Vitamin D; however, intriguing to read about. The sun is one big factor in how our levels of this vitamin remain healthy. If not, there are supplements, but you would need to have testing and see your primary care provider for more information.

You can see here why I love the sun today because this was my drive home one night. I passed a man who completely flipped his truck over the rails and down the moutain. Officers everywhere trying to figure out how to get him out. I don't know if he made it or not.

My phone was turned here not my head. :P

I felt like singing, She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain.

When I got up on the mountain higher, it was like this.

So for today, my friends, I hope you have a sunny day and if not just remember how appreciative you will be more when that day comes!

Happy Sunday!

Your Word is a lanp to my feet and a light to my path.~~~~ Psalms 119:105

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. ~~~~ 1 Peter 5:7

The Nichols-Hardman House 1869---A Sampler in the Making!

 My creative mind never tires of ideas and places to go and homesteading in the mountains!  Alot of times, I don't have to go very far to find the absolutely stunning gems in the North Ga. mountains, valleys and hills.

I would like to share with you some pictures Mr. Darcy took this afternoon of the old Hardman House right here in Sautee-Nacoochee, Ga, very close to where we live in this beautiful mountain country we call home.  He drove by and stopped to take several pics of the gorgeous, absolutely stunning restoration of a home from the 1800's here. The house touring will start and open this week. He said he had to take the pics from the road. A couple of folks were there still working on the inside of it today.

 People from all over visit Helen, Georgia, the little town next to it all year long. 

The house was originally built in 1869-1873 by Captain James H. Nichols. Nichols actually served as a Colonel in the Confederate army, but was called, "Captain" by those who knew him well. The farm was sold in 1893 to Calvin Hunnicutt of Atlanta. He sold the farm to Dr. Lamartine G. Hardman in 1903. Hardman later served as Governor of Georgia 1927 - 1931.

Captain Nichols named Anna Ruby Falls after his daughter, Anna Ruby, which is a beautiful waterfall just a couple miles away. I think I have posted pics in the past of Anna Ruby Falls. 

The house has been in the process of restoration for several years so I'm excited when I drive by to see all the restorations in progress and almost to completion now.

The estate will be reopening this Thursday for tours. A lot of the furniture of Dr. Hardman still remains in the house.

This is the main house. Yup. Isn't it beyond beautiful? Would this not make a gorgeous sampler???????

 It was modeled architecturally in an Italianate style after Nichols' aunt's house in Milledgeville and he called it West End.  "An unusual feature of the porch is clustered columns. A scroll-saw railing encloses the porch. The arched entrance has double doors with sidelights carrying over in the form of a transom arched at the bottom and top".~~~ from Digital Library of Georgia.

This is a fountain to the right of the house.

This is a second house on the property.  Not sure right now, but we think it was a guest house or the home of the care taker of the property years ago.

Side view of the Hardman house

One of 15 farm buildings on the property

The left front side to the Summer kitchen

Three of the fifteen other buildings on the property

We can't wait to see what is inside this fenced in area.

All these pics are taken from the highway or outside of the property until it opens this week.

This is a close up pic of the Summer kitchen.

http://www.snca.org/bp/history/bldgHardman.php for more information on the grounds.

These pics intrigue me for a future sampler design. I can feel the birth of a new design to work on right now! So, somewhere down the road..........in the future, know that I will be recreating my take on this beautiful house.

#inspirationisrightatyourfingertips

I hope you have enjoyed these pics that Mr Darcy made this afternoon and when this site opens, for an inside tour, if they allow pictures, I will for sure be taking some detailed pics for the blog. I never thought of myself as loving history in school so much but as I get older, I really enjoy seeing something old, restored and valued just as before. 

A sampler of the entire property front, or including the Indian mound across the road.....just ideas now....... I do know that the first picture with the detail of the house would make a gorgeous linen sampler. The red roof, the white house and the shutters.

Of course, when the leaves change their beautiful colors in just a couple of weeks, my heart will be happy soaking in the views here. 

There's always, always, always, things to do at the homestead here and with working full time as a practitioner, I've been quite the busy one. However, I'm still clicking my needles at night and weekends, along with reading some good books and taking one room at the time right now week by week, cleaning out and redesigning our home for the two of us. I'm still on track with my 2014 goal to simplify.

I love to stay busy in my life, especially when I'm so blessed with a loving husband, a continuing career in women's health as an NP, and the love of needlework, homesteading, designing, music, and reading. 

~~~~~~~ And all of this started with a dream in my heart at age 10 in Ridgecrest, North Carolina with my church youth group. I said a little prayer to God that He would let me live in the mountains
when I grow up..........because literally each Spring when we traveled there and then again to Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the Fall with the church group, my heart fell in love especially during the Fall. 

Being raised in South Ga at the time and really not thinking that life would slow down enough for me to have that dream come true, I pushed it away until one day. One day, I made the move. God didn't share with me all the things I would have to go through to get my dream of a loving, kind husband, and a home in the mountains, and working in nursing but I can say it was all worth it in the long run. I know He watches me.

 If you are reading this and you have had dreams and prayers, please know even though it seems the impossible, with God all things are possible. It's the timing that makes the difference. He showed me through circumstances, some very surreal, what His promises hold in His timing, not mine. It's so good to know He loves us all unconditionally without rejection and judgement. After all, we are sons and daughters of a King.

I always appreciate all your comments, both private and public. They really do mean so much to me and have through the years. Have a Blessed Monday!

Best and Blessings,

Jennifer