Making a Cake Plate: Part One

I saw this sweet idea at a little antique store in Florida when I was visiting Elizabeth last fall.

I have kept it filed away in my head in the "things I want to try" file, and finally I did.

I thought they might make a nice, yet easy and  inexpensive Mother's Day Gift.

Two candlesticks and two plates from the thrift store.

Glue that works with glass

Glue rim of candlestick,  place plate on top; turn upside down, checking to make sure all is centered... dry according to glue instructions.

More to come.....

Seedlings

This is an old water hauling tank.  It has crack in the back, so it is no longer any good for hauling water. But....

It makes a wonderful little greenhouse for seedlings.  Steve and Luke cut a door out for it and put hinges on the door.

The seedlings have approved.  They say its nice and cozy, warm.

We have been growing tomatoes from seed this year; a first for us. In addition to some heirloom seed that we have purchased, Luke has also been saving tomato seed from some of our favorite store bought tomatoes. He  has been planting them and they are coming up wonderfully... we are not sure if they are hybrid,  or whether they will actually produce fruit, but we are experimenting.

Some of the sprouts are getting big,  and some are just beginning to sprout (these pictures are actually a couple of weeks old, so all are sprouting/growing nicely now... didn't feel like getting more pictures up-dated, but perhaps a little later).

Can't wait to see them growing like crazy.

Eggplant

Squash

This is one of Luke's many plantings... not sure what is in this one... we have actually set aside a little plot called "mystery garden"... we'll see what grows, what produces fruit etc...

Lettuce

Beets

One of our experiments this year will be a straw bale garden; Shorty demonstrates the excellent platform for a lovely warm bed these bales will provide.  More on the bale garden later.

 Hope your week brings you sunshine, joy and peace.

Many Blessings to all.

Pam

Royal Day

Yes, the Royal Wedding is today.  It seemed a day to do something different, something sweet, something pretty, and join in the celebration.  I was talking to Marie on the phone this morning.  I miss my daughters very much.  Wish I could dress up and go to their houses for tea and scones to celebrate with friends in Great Britain and be enthusiastic for the sweet, young, newly, married, Royal Couple (that was a mouthful wasn't it?).  Instead I decided to get dressed up and go to town and meet my friend Roxy for tea. I am dressed and cleaned up and   feeling a little less like a red neck and a little more like a lady; I even managed to put on some pretty pearls.  Its a nice change from the dirt, and the seedlings in the garden, and all the dirt and grit that the wind is blowing our way (hoping it won't be windy in town).  It feels like a day to take a hold of joy... joy needs to be chased and embraced of late, for it has been hiding and fleeing. What a happy day when we are all together at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.  That will be a day of unsurpassed joy.  No need to chase it then.

May you all be blessed with a day of joy today.

Much Love, Pam

David Wilkerson goes to Heaven

This morning we woke up to the sad news that David Wilkerson was killed in a car accident yesterday.
My daughter Marie had e-mailed us about it, and then my husband found it on  his daily e-mail devotional.  David was like a Father in the Faith to us and to many of our family and friends.  I feel such a sad loneliness for him already, and have been getting choked up off and on all morning.  His daily words of encouragement blessed and comforted us so much.  It seems there are not that many "modern day" Fathers of the faith left.  I think of Billy Graham and Tommy Barnett... they also are comforting fathers .  It is hard and difficult days we are in.  I posted a little post about David Wilkerson last fall, when we had the privilege to go with our friends Roxy and Danny to hear him and his son and Nicki Cruz speak at a Pastors and Leadership conference.  I am so glad to have had the opportunity to go to that. Here are the last words David wrote yesterday.  So  amazingly prophetic, insightful and comforting.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

WHEN ALL MEANS FAIL

To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).
Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.
Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.
That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”
Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”
Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.
To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”
Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.

Posted by David Wilkerson

Easter Lambs and Roast Beef

It has been a hectic week, and has been so hard to get a post done.   I got the final 2 lambs crocheted for precious grandsons and all the lambs went into the mail at the beginning of the week, hopefully to arrive at their homes soon. They don't really seem like Easter Lambs, but for little boys, I think they will do.

I've got my Easter Menu ready, how about you all?  I would love to be eating lamb, but will suffice with roast beef, which we have in more abundance. 

Luke and I have been working on our seedlings and garden this week when the wind would stop long enough for us to move and think straight.  I will post about it, in a day or two, after Easter is over.

Hope you all have a Blessed Easter, as you celebrate the "the Power of His Resurrection.

all boxed up and ready to ship

Easter Menu

Appetizer:

Hummus dip with crackers

Main Dish
Roast Beef with Rosemary

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Fresh Raised Rolls

Roasted Vegetables with Herbs

Green Salad with Mandarines

Dessert

Strawberry Coffee Cake

Many Blessings to you all during this Easter/Passover season

Pam

Unless a seed....

Steve and I went to the funeral of a good friend and neighbor yesterday.  She passed away on Saturday after a long fight with breast cancer.  Today I have been feeling sad and flat.  Strange how you process sad news.  I find I try to grip myself when I know something is coming, but when it happens, it doesn't seem real; I  feel numb for a little bit. Then sadness hits at various moments of the day. Great sorrow for Kim's husband over takes my heart.  I can't imagine Dale without Kim.  They were like 2 peas in a pod.  How will Dale bare it?   How would I bare it if it were me?  Not very well.  But of course the grace of God is real, tangible and powerful.  It is that power that works in us, when it seems impossible for us to go on.  It is here with us.  It is here with Dale.

We told Eddie about Kim.  He knew it was coming too, but I think when we are young the inability to understand or grasp the reality of those things is even stronger.  Eddie was taken aback.  His first question to Steve was "How is Dale?"  That was so precious for Steve and I to hear.  It really touched our hearts.  Yesterday Eddie called us on our cell phones after the funeral;  he said.  "How is Dale?"  That was a double for Eddie, who more often than not doesn't seem to notice the world around him in his adolescent cloud.  This blesses me.

Life and death are a mystery.  They are everywhere and all around; sometimes in the obvious such as I have just talked about, and in the  not as obvious, like the grain of wheat; like our life  as Christians, which dies progressively to "self", and lives progressively to "redemption".   Dying has seemed to me lately like giving birth; pain and travailing giving forth to a new life.  For Kim that new life is in Heaven.    I see so many changes in the earth these last few years.  More death than I ever remember.  I don't quite know how to take it in.  For some we can rejoice, and for others, it is great sorrow.  Every time I hear of a movie star or someone famous dying, it grieves me greatly, because their death has not necessarily translated them into new life.   I don't worry about Kim's soul  I know where it is, but I find my heart heavy for the world.  I am reminded how my Heavenly Father gave the life of His only begotten Son so that those who believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.   The symbolism is everywhere; I have often marveled at how death reigns in the winter, but life reigns in the spring.  Out of hard dead sticks come soft supple buds, new leaves, new life.  I understand it,  and yet, it is a mystery.

THE ANGEL

The hospice nurse was a friend of Kim's from previous days, and the Lord  brought her to be Kim's hospice nurse.  She told a story at the funeral that blessed us all.  She said that as the end drew near, Kim whispered to her to get Dale (who had been up all the previous night, and was now sleeping while Kim's Mom and the nurse took the shift).  As the nurse turned to go get Dale, she  looked up and saw an Angel of the Lord; yes, an Angel.  And then he began to ascend.  Kim said "hurry".  Dale came quickly to Kim's side and was able to be with her those last moments; and that was the end. It was very comforting to think of that Angel there to assist Kim to Heaven.  What a treasure.

Dale and Kim standing next to Russell and friends and family  at his going away party last year.

John 12:24

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone ; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

7 Random Facts

 

Keri from Keri On  tagged me for this award.  I am supposed to give 7 random facts about myself, and then I will pass it on.   I enjoyed reading the 7 facts about Keri, and I do think it is a nice way to get to know a little more about each other.  Thanks Keri.  

Now let's see 7 Random facts....

1.  I was born in California (yawn... I know but still, its a fact and its random)

2.  My family moved to Europe  when I was about 3 years old; We lived in Wales,  Italy and Germany for several years.

3.  I spoke  Italian somewhat fluently (or so I am told), but don't remember any of it now except the few words  that my family sometimes say to each other such as; "Pamela  cativa" (pronounce  Pamela: Pam - a - (long a) - la):   or" Mikala  cativa" or : "Davida cativa".... which means "naughty Pammy" or "naughty Mikey", or "naughty Davey"....  (my brother's names are Mike and Dave). Now isn't that funny the things you forget, and the things you remember?

4.  My family moved to Phoenix , Arizona after we returned from Europe,   where I lived until I got married.

 

5.  When I was in High School I took German as my language course.  I can remember a little more German than Italian, because I was able to go back to Germany for a summer when I was 17, to visit my Dad who was living there at that time.

6.  When I was a little girl I used to say "when I grow up, I am going to marry a rancher". When I was a junior in High school, I met a young man whom I fell in love with and I married him 2 years later.  He grew up helping his Grandfather on his ranch every summer, and that's what he became; a rancher.  Isn't The Lord good to us? We have been married 31 years now.

7.  Books are one of many favorite things.  I love to read, collect, look at and smell books.  To me a house doesn't seem quite complete with out some sort of library to brows through.

Now I would like to tag Ann of 8 Acres of Eden.  I would enjoy learning 7 random things about her.