Quilts

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First i would like to share some very interesting tidbits from the “history of quilting page” on wikipedia.

✄ The stitching together of layers of padding and fabric, may date back as far as ancient Egypt.

✄ In Europe quilting appears to have been introduced by Crusaders in the 12th century, in particular in the form of the aketon or gambeson, a quilted garment worn under armour which later developed into the doublet.
✄ Russia holds the oldest example in existence, which is a quilted linen carpet found in a Mongolian cave.
✄ In America in the 18th century, only the wealthy had the leisure time for quilt making so Colonial quilting was done by only a few.
✄ In the mid 19th century, textiles were manufactured on a broad scale.  Women no longer had to spend time spinning and weaving to provide fabric for their family’s clothing.  By the 1840’s, commercial fabrics were affordable to almost every family.  Quilt making became widespread and more block style quilts were made because of the variety of fabric.

Some quilts are very attractive to me and some are not.  But, the ones i do like, i like very much.  I like to see the fabric, colours, and the quilting stitches.  It is amazing what people are creating these days.  And of course, they can still be sewn by hand, but, most people use an assortment of sewing machines.  And, the sewing machines are another subject all together.
I like the feel of a quilt on the bed in the summer months instead of a fluffy comforter.  I like baby quilts and toddler quilts, because i like to see them used and loved until they fall apart.  Very small children tend to love small quilts.
I like quilts so much, that i started a blog just for quilts and those who like them, and it’s called “daisies and dandelions.”

voices and friends . poetry reading

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If you would like to join in the poetry reading, you will find information on our first post…here.
There is a “voices and friends group” on facebook…here.
Enjoy the reading.

 For Maureen’s poem go (here) … mister linky was giving her problems.

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Steve started something…

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Steve was doing some thinking…and it got me to thinking.  And now i’m going to get you thinking.
Thinking about receiving a letter or card in the mail, and how much we all like to get letters from
folks we know.  Steve says that he is going to send letters to the people he knows, and that he will
send a letter to anyone that wants to join him in this.  I sent him my mailing address…via e-mail.
So now i can look forward to a note in the mail.

And i am going get back into writing and sending notes.  I might even send a poem or two.

Does this get you thinking about someone that would enjoy a letter or a card from you?

Why not buy some of those pretty Love stamps and get to writing.
And i hope you will encourage others to pick up their pen.  (or crayons)

✒For Steve’s post, click here.

one

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I am just one person. I am the same as others in many ways, yet, i am also different. I don’t have to really think on this too much to know it.  
Comparison of self with others is a risky business.  In the action of comparing we take our eyes off of the Lord. There is no way to compare and not run into judgement issues. Either we think of our self as better, or we think of our self as worse. We can never think of our similarities with another when we begin to compare.  
When we compare and think of our self as “worse than”, we often want to be someone other than who we are. We can even become discouraged. But, if we were looking at God, He would show us that we are unique in what we see, and who we are, and that it is special. If we are looking to God, He shows us that we don’t need to be someone else.
When we compare and think of our self as “better than”, we can become selfish and self centered. But, if we were looking to God, He would show us that we are unique, that our life is our special gift, to share and to give in God’s glory. He would show us that each person is Loved by God.
Each of us is special. We each have a life and perspective and feelings that are unique. And if we are looking to God; walking, speaking and listening to God, we are more likely to be led to see “one another” and “ourselves” the way that God sees us.
God made me to be me, to see from these eyes, to hear with these ears, to touch with these hands, and to feel with this heart.  And to do it all with Him.  To first look to the One who made me, and who knows me better than anyone. And to remember that the Lord is the One who Loves me in that undeniable way that is only His.
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mere christianity . by c.s.Lewis

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You know, if you hang out with someone that is infected with something, you might end up getting infected too.  Maybe it could be a “good infection.”  C.S. Lewis talks about the one good infection that will enter into your life, your body, your mind and your heart.  I happen to know that this particular condition will grow and continually change the way you feel, think and see.  It will share with you it’s own life.  You will experience some side effects, but hey, it will all be good in time.  And, then, after your body dies, there will be a new and better life for you, made by the one that is in you.  Now, that’s one good infection.  
Beyond this talk of good infection, the best part about knowing your need for and seeking Jesus, is that you have a reconnection, and relationship that you didn’t have before.  Yes, that is really what your life becomes. A relationship between you and your maker.  No one knows you better than your maker or Loves you more for that matter.
Well, i suspect that if you are a believer, that you already know this.  And if you are not, well, you might not be so inclined to want to hear about it.  But, you just never know what might happen with words.  I’m just the one that types them.
Group reading of Mere Christianity

play together . one

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play together
canvas detail
ingredients: acrylic…that’s it so far.

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Are we to paint what’s on the face, what’s inside the face, or what’s behind it?
pablo picasso

voices and friends . poetry reading

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Welcome to our second voices and friends.
I just had the best time listening to all of you read last week.
You all did a great job!  Yea!

Last weeks post is here.
The “voices and friends group” on Facebook is here.
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changes

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This week was a week of noticeable transition.  CJ and i were getting accustomed to getting up and out the door in the mornings, as it was our first week off of summer time and back on to school time.  Which is mostly CJ getting herself ready for school, and me getting ready to drive her near enough, in the backed-up line of cars, to let her out.  She gets out of the car and walks at the point when the students are walking faster than the cars are moving.  Which is not too long of a walk, so it works out fine.

I have started on a painting, and it’s going a bit slow, but, i am liking the process.  It is very much like feeling my way along a ledge on the outside of a building…and then being pulled through a window now and then.  I think that i might take detail photos of certain areas as we go along.  yes…we.  As for me, to make (what most of us call) art, i must (and like to) interact and collaborate (play together) with my Creator.  It is in the painting process that i have been learning this, along with the comprehension that the interaction,  collaboration and play can (and probably should) take place in other aspects of my life as well.
And, of course, in the middle of it all, was this feeling of going back in time, or being in some kind of limbo or stillness, as many things have been said and done in remembrance of the loss and changes that took place, ten years ago, on Sep. 11, 2001.
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On In Around button

God’s Word

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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Nearer my God to Thee

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Through the the joys and losses in this life… God is.
Draw near to Him.

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Nearer, My god to Thee
(info. and photos from wikipedia)

The verse was written by the English poet and Unitarian hymn writer Sarah Flower Adams (1805–1848)  at her home in Sunnybank, LoughtonEssex, England, in 1841. It was first set to music by Adams’s sister, the composer Eliza Flower, for William Johnson Fox‘s collection Hymns and Anthems.    


Bethel 

Bethel is mentioned several times in Genesis. It is first mentioned in Genesis 12,[3] but the best-known instance is probably Genesis 28,[4] when Jacob, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau, falls asleep on a stone and dreams of a ladder stretching between Heaven and Earth and thronged with angels; God stands at the top of the ladder, and promises Jacob the land of Canaan; when Jacob awakes he anoints the stone (baetylus) with oil and names the place Bethel. Another account, from Genesis 35[5] repeats the covenant with God and the naming of the place (as El-Bethel), and makes this the site of Jacob’s own change of name to Israel. Both versions state that the original name of the place was Luz, a Canaanite name.