Thank you SP12!

Just arrived home from a most wonderful vacation and found a package from my SP12. Thanks to her for the knitting magazine, stitch markers in a style that I didn't have, and a lovely sachet. Each gift, along with her note, brightened my day.

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Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ~ Philippians 4:6

Libris Swap Thanks

These fantastic gifts arrived from my partner in the Libris swap on Ravelry. I look forward to reading both books while we are traveling over the next weeks. The Lantern Moon tape measure is so cute!! The yarn---oooh, the yarn! Fantastic shades of teal in a DK merino---just wonderful. Best of all, at least 5% of the profits earned by the yarn company, The Unique Sheep, goes to charity. Thanks again to my partner for a fun Friday the 13th!!

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And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ---Philippians 4:7

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Not doing any scrubbing whatsoever is high up on my bucket list. :D

2. My favorite quote is "Be still and know that I am God."; it's from Psalms 46:10.

3. Reading blogs inspired me to start blogging.

4. Strawberries are best when fresh from the garden.

5. Being back in my classroom with children is in the last dream I remember having.

6. The most enjoyable time to go for a walk is at the crack of dawn.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to reading and knitting, tomorrow my plans include packing for our vacation and Sunday, I want to celebrate Father's Day with DH!

Dogs-n-Books on Thursday

Question from the hostesses:

What is your favorite summertime drink??

My all the time, anywhere go-to beverage is Diet Coke.

http://dogsonthursday.blogspot.com/

Max and Lailah check the placement of the pot of daisies on the deck. Approved!

http://btt2.wordpress.com
A combo of two suggestions by: Heidi and by litlove
Have you ever been a member of a book club? How did your group choose (or if you haven’t been, what do you think is the best way to choose) the next book and who would lead discussion?
Do you feel more or less likely to appreciate books if you are obliged to read them for book groups rather than choosing them of your own free will? Does knowing they are going to be read as part of a group affect the reading experience?

I have been in two book clubs and enjoyed them at the time. In both groups, members mentioned books they had read or were inclined to read. The group discussed the books and settled on one to read next. It was all very civil, actually. No blood was let. The person who suggested the book led the discussion. Some used novel ways to get into the book, bringing fun and interest to the reading.

Knowing the book was read for a group didn't affect my enjoyment so much as trying to read books that I couldn't connect with. I eventually decided that if I didn't like the book by a certain point, I just didn't read it.

 

Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” ---John 6:28-29

Wordless Wednesday

Remembering RFK

Robert F. Kennedy

Graduation weekend. House full of guests. Bright and early--6 AM. The clock radio turns on. "Robert F. Kennedy has been shot at the Ambassador Hotel.....he has been taken......Ethel at his side...."

Stunned.

Another assassination?

MLK.

JFK.

What is happening?

Where will this take our country?

Profound sorrow.

Graduation weekend.

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Friday Fill-Ins

Questions courtesy of One Knutty Knitter.

1. Idle hands are resting.

2. I love praying in the shower.

3. My favorite time of the day is when I'm knitting and reading.

4. The last tea I drank was a fluke since I don't like tea.

5. I like to enjoy flowers and butterflies in the Summer.

6. My mother always said, "Do that one more time and I'm telling your Dad!"

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to peace, tomorrow my plans include quiet and Sunday, I want to spend the day on the deck!

Dogs-n-Books on Thursday

Peek-a-boo! When I grabbed the camera, both had their eyes closed.

http://btt2.wordpress.com/

Have your book tastes changed over the years? More fiction? Less? Books that are darker and more serious? Lighter and more frivolous? Challenging? Easy? How-to books over novels? Mysteries over Romance?

Great question, given my advanced years. :D It does give me pause to think about the many books I've enjoyed and what common threads may connect them relative to my situation at the time. The first thing that I realize is that I tend to select non-fiction featuring characters near my own age at the time of reading. I do look for characters and/or topics that connect to me in age or circumstance as well as those that transport me to another place.
Though I've always enjoyed biography, my reading includes more memoirs and biographies now. I find it interesting to read about life's patterns and how each is affected by them, how each reacts, how I react. Life's journey connects everyone. I have moved away from autobiography and found an affinity for memoirs. I do tend to read several books about the same person or group to detect commonalities in each book. That gives credence to what most probably is true. Well, unless its the same interview subject in every book!!
I definitely have excluded books that are sexually graphic and/or violent. Now, I read to experience positive feelings at the end of the book. I avoid sad and very emotional books. Yes, I now realize upon reflection, that it has everything to do with changes over the years.

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As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength. ~ Psalm 138:3

Wordless Wednesday: Moonshine

Knitting In The Rain...Just Knitting In The Rain...

What a glorious feeling! I love rain. Always have. I was standing in the open doorway to the deck when I noticed that part of the swing was dry because of the roof over-hang and the lack of wind. I grabbed the cable square I am knitting for the Sampler Ghan. Of course, my water loving assistant, Lailah came along too. Rocking on the swing while knitting and listening to the rain was so relaxing, I decided to run inside to grab my camera.

And returned to find this tangled mess in Lailah's mouth after she had run around the deck table and chairs a couple of times!! Can you relate?

Lailah can look contrite in an instant. She does it several times a day!

As darkness fell, I could barely see my knitting, so I leaned back and enjoyed the pattering rain and creaking sound of the swing for several minutes. So peaceful, beautiful, soothing despite my adventure with yarn and Lailah...again.

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I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.~ Psalm 71:16

Ravelry Mystery Swap 3 -- Received

Thank you so very much to Sunmoon for the luscious gift box complete with ingredients for a great meal of pasta plus knitting items:

Fiber Trends Leaf Lace Sox pattern, 2 skeins of gorgeous Panda silk in beautiful shades of teal, Brittany size 2 dpns, Pony needles, a see-through 6-inch ruler, a magnetic notepad, Eucalyptus hand cream. and a Mini Bamboo crochet hook–so cute!

Italy Theme: ingredients for an Italian meal complete with an apron decorated with mouth-watering purple grapes and a pasta scoop along with mini-penne, garlic & herb spaghetti sauce, grated Italian topping, cappuccino mix, and Bliss chocolates to finish the meal. Excellent!!

Thanks-thanks-thanks! Love it all! :D

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I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.~ Psalm 63:8