Coming Soon!!!

A shawl up-date, complete with pictures!!! :) It's so big!! I'll be sure to post that ASAP!

He went anyway ...

::~In spite of all the years I would reject Him and turn away from Him ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of all the many times I would fall after I accepted His gift of salvation ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of the many times I would turn away, after salvation ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of the times when I would take matters into my own hands, rather then trusting ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of all the times I wouldn't stand for Him because of the pressure ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of all the times I just didn't get what I was suppose to learn ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of all the times I was unkind, unChrist-like ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of all the times I would sin, and still do ... He went anyway.
::~In spite of the times He knew I wouldn't love Him as I ought, and still don't ... Jesus went to the cross for me anyway!

The list goes on ... think about it!

A change of plan

Hello all, from my last post you perhaps noticed that I was going to make myself a shawl with the left over yarn from the blanket. I'm no longer going to make that shawl, because after I had gotten at least five rows into it I realized something was not going right and that if I continued to make the shawl the way I was it was not going to turn out as the pattern showed. So I quit and looked for a different shawl. And look what I found!!! (You'll have to register in order to see the pattern, I'm sorry.) But hopefully you can see the picture (Right). :) It's so beautiful. I am, as you can see, going to use different colors for it, and I'm so excited. I think it's going to be so pretty.

Here is my progress so far, from tonight (in the last two hours) mind you, it isn't really that hard once you figure it out (*ahem* Thanks Mama).

The fun, beautiful flowery start to my wonderful shawl.
If you look at the picture of the shawl, (top right corner) the blue circle is the part of the shawl that I've made so far. My part is laying on it's side. The top part that goes around your neck is the right side on my flowery thing. Make sense? Know where my part fits in? :) Look Peeps!!! Do you see this? This is what we call a "Puff Stitch". Yay, that little pillow looking thing. I'd never heard of one before and certainly never done one. So it was an experience, but it was oh, so fun!

*~Purple Beauty~*

It is finished. The purple window blanket I started on vacation!! It's so cozy. I love it. It's so soft, I've never worked with yarn as soft as this, so it was very nice.

Yesterday my poor sick Mother was wrapped up in it and she said she thought it would be rather cold because of the "windowpanes" but she said it kept her warm. And poor sick Popi needed more then just my purple window blanket to keep him warm, he had the chills all day. Poor people. But Mama says she is doing better today and I haven't gotten a report from Popi yet.

Here is the pattern I used. (You will need Javascript or some such flash player in order to open the pattern). I followed the pattern for 19 blocks, 182 chains, and 52.5". The pattern says to use the same color for the edging as used on the blanket, I, obvious from the pictures, did not, I used a lighter purple. I went around the outside of the blanket three times to get the edging you see in the pictures. The yarn I used was called "Caron Simply Soft", which is what the pattern calls for. I picked up my colors at Wal-mart. If your Wal-mart does not have the colors you want, I'm sure they could order them for you. If not, look on line for them. The colors I used were: dark="Grape", light="Orchid". It is a fun blanket to make and an easy pattern to follow.

With my extra yarn I'm going to make a shawl, so I can feel Jane Austen-ish. Even though they didn't usually wear the triangular shawls I'm going to make myself one anyway. They usually wore the long (rectangular) shawls. Just the same I'm excited about a beautiful Flowery (Filet) shawl.

~New Look~

~I know I just did this not long ago, but I was feeling "scrunched" with my last template, so I had to change it to a "stretch" one so I have more space. :) I'm weird, I know.

Please, if you see anything; color, text, pictures, font, etc., that needs fixed or changed please leave a comment and I'll fix it. :) Thank you. Hope you like the "new" look, I thing it's fun!!~

Tracks

BirdSquirrel

All Jane all the time!

Here is a list of up-coming Jane Austen movies on "PBS, Master Piece Theatre (Or Theater :))" station.

Jan 13- Persuasion
Jan 20- Northanger Abbey
Jan 27- Mansfield Park
Feb 3- Miss Austen regrets
Feb 10-24 Pride&Prejudice (3 2-hr episodes)
Mar 2-16 pledge drive no films
Mar 23- Emma
Mar 30-Apr6 Sense and Sensibility (2 90-minute episodes)

They will air Sundays at 9:00 PM Eastern time.

As you can see from the list tonight is Persuasion! Don't miss it!!!

~My Constant Companions~

~~My favorite beautiful, trusty, hardly-ever-clean, Christmas-gift-from-one-of-my-piano-students teacup and also my gorgeous copper-plated, best-secondhand-store-find teapot. My constant companions every day of the week, but especially on chilly, snowy, winter days like today.~~

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

The little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely and dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.

By~ Robert Frost

Your Debt is Forgiven be Forgiving!

In my Bible reading I'm going through Matthew and the other night I was reading Matthew 18:21-35. I read a section in my MacArthur (NKJV) study Bible, read his footnotes, read the section again in my ESV Bible and then read the ESV footnotes, too. And I was blown away by the extreme debt we, as unbelievers have, and how God has forgiven all our debt and sees us through His Son and how we, as forgiven believers, ought to forgive others, as Christ has forgiven us. I'm going to write out the NKJV and the NKJV footnotes. Then I'm going to write out the ESV and the ESV footnotes. I would urge you to read at the vary least one of the Bible passages and both sets of footnotes because both sets of footnotes point out things that really made me think. Just take it all in, apply and be thankful and forgiving "Even as Christ forgave you"!

Matthew 18:21-35~ (NKJV)
"21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 27 Then the master of the servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
"28 But that servant when out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses." "

MacArthur Footnotes~ (NKJV)
21~ Up to seven times. Peter thought he was being magnanimous. The rabbis, citing several verses from Amos (1:3,6,9,11,13) taught that since God forgave Israel's enemies only 3 times, it was presumptuous and unnecessary to forgive anyone more than 3 times.
22~ seventy times seven. Innumerable times.
23~ servants. Due to the large amounts of money involved, it is likely these "servants" would have been provincial governors who owed the king the money from taxation.
24~ ten thousand talents. This represents and incomprehensible amount of money. The talent was the largest denomination of currency, and "ten thousand" in common parlance signified and infinite number.
25~ that he be sold. A way to recover some of this loss was for the king to sell the family members into slavery.
27~ forgave him. Picturing this generous, compassionate forgiveness of God to a pleading sinner who owes him an unplayable debt.
28~ a hundred denarii. About 3 months' wages. This was not a negligible amount by normal standards, but it was a pittance in comparison to what the servant had been forgiven.
29~ Have patience...I will pay you all. The forgiven man heard the same pleading he had given before his master, but was utterly without compassion (v. 30).
31~ fellow servants...grieved. A lack of forgiveness is offensive to fellow believers. Most of all it offends God, who chastens His unforgiving children severely (vv. 32-34).
34~ his master was angry. Because He is holy and just, God is always angry at sin, including the sins of His children. torturers. Not executioners. This pictures severe discipline, not final condemnation. all that was due to him. The original debt was unplayable and the man still without resources. So it seems unlikely that the slave was saddled once again with the same debt he had already been forgiven. Rather, what he now owed his master would be exacted in chastening by mis master until he was willing to forgive others.


Matthew 18:21-35~ (ESV)
"21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.(1)
23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.(2) 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.(3) 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant(4) fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,(5) and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,(6) until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

ESV Footnotes~
(1) Or seventy-seven times
(2) Greek bondservants; also verses 28, 31
(3) A talent was a monetary unit worth about twenty years' wages for a laborer
(4) Greek bondservant; also verses 27, 28, 29, 32, 33
(5) A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
(6) Greek tortures

Since it is a new year ...

Happy New Year to one and all!!

As we start our new year may we look to Christ to better serve and love Him as we ought. When making and carrying out our new year resolutions (and perhaps failing) may we do what brings most honor and glory to Him and to His name!

*~Christmas fellowship with family~*

On Sunday we went to Katya's (my sister-in-law) parent's farm for some early Christmas time with family. It was so cozy and wonderful, I just had to share some tid-bits with you. :)
Also see Katya's and Leah's posts about Sunday.

The wonderfully beautiful colors of the napkins. :) I'm totally taken with beautiful flower-y things.The fun little plates we used for the supper snack time.Beautiful beads hang from their nifty light.Their cozy tree. I love it!Does this need explaining? :) The basket with a beautiful napkin?Okay, yes, I was totally and completely taken with the silverware/napkin "tray" that we used for the snack time that I took picture upon picture of it and its contents, as you are about to see. :) But I only shared my favorite pictures of it. So in a sense you can be thankful. :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!!

May you have a wonderful, Christ-centered Christmas, remembering not only His birth, but His death, His resurrection and His gift of salvation to us! Remember as you're exchanging gifts, eating wonderful food and treats and visiting with family and friends just what is the purpose of all that we do, both at Christmas and all-year-round. To honor and glorify God. Remember, also, that Christ isn't just the little baby in the manger, but ruler of all, at God's right hand, interceding for you and me. Praise be to the Lord, God of all!

~Be Near to Me~

For what does He ask that I cannot give?

"Nothing," my heart cries, "for all is His."
He has already given His life for me,
And He asks for no more than that of me.
Be near to me, Lord, be near.

Be my Lord, Master, God and King,
Oh, make me Yours, ruler of everything.
Break my heart, if You should see the need,
For You say when my heart is broken You are near to me.
Only, Lord, never leave, please ... be near to me.

Take what You must,
Please help me to trust.
Try, test, discipline and scourge,
For it says in Your precious Word,
"Those whom He loves, He chastens,"
And, "By this we know we are sons."
Do what you will Lord,
Do all to make me love You more.
As the tears fall when only You can see,
Only be near to me.

~Ana (A.K.A. me)
~Written 11-13&14-07

Chicken and Dumpling Soup

~~~~Soup~~~~

****Seasonings****
*1 (4 pound) whole chicken
*6-8 cups of water or chicken broth
*3 teaspoons (cubes) chicken bouillon
*1 pinch poultry seasoning
*1 pinch dried thyme
*1 dash garlic powder
*1 pinch dried sage
*1 teaspoon salt
*1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
****Vegetables****
*1 onion, chopped
*1 1/2 cups chopped celery
*1 cup chopped carrots
*1 potatoes, cubed
*1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
*1/4 cup chopped tomatoes

**In a large pot over medium heat, combine the chicken, water, bouillon, poultry seasoning, thyme, garlic powder, sage, and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and allow to simmer until chicken is done. (Never boil chicken when cooking, it will get hard and dry. Simmering it will keep it moist and tender).

**Remove chicken, debone and take of skin, chop meat and return to pot.

**Add the onion, celery, carrots, potatoes, green bell pepper and tomatoes, cover pot and allow to simmer for one hour, or until vegetables are tender.

~~~~Dumplings~~~~

*1 cup flour
*2 teaspoons baking powder
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/2 cup milk
*2 tablespoons vegetable oil

**Put dry ingredients together in a bowl and mix well. Put liquid ingredients together in a separate bowl and mix. Mix dry and liquid ingredients together just until moist. Drop by spoonfuls onto soup. Cover, let simmer (not boil) for 12 -15 minutes. You may uncover for last few minutes. DO NOT STIR!

NOTE:
**If desired add a teaspoon of basil to the chicken when it is cooking.

**I was in a hurry to make this for dinner this morning and didn't have time to simmer the chicken. So I thawed the chicken, deboned it, cut it into bite sized pieces and sauteed it in a little bit of oil. Then I added the water and the seasonings. I chopped the onion, celery and carrots up and sauteed them in oil before adding them and the other veggies to the soup. I didn't have any green bell peppers, but if I did I would use more then a 1/4 of a cup and more tomatoes as well, probably one medium sized bell pepper and one medium tomato (around one cup).

**I changed this recipe to my liking, to see the original recipe click here.

**Pinch:A small amount of dry ingredient, generally around 1/16 of a teaspoon. It's about as much as can be held between the tip of the thumb and the forefinger.

**Dash:Less than an 1/8 of a teaspoon.

**Saute:To cook quickly in a pan on top of the stove until the food is browned. Sauteeing is often done in a small, shallow pan called a saute pan.

**For more Cooking and Food terms click here.

New Book

I haven't finished any books, I just started a new one, because all the other books I'm reading are really long, take forever to read books. So I thought I'd read Lori Wick's Beyond the Picket Fence, which is eight of her short stories put in between two covers. I do not, however, recommend many of Lori Wick's books. She tends to make her romance books a little bit too romantic. I like the way Jane Austen writes her romance books, not mushy and PG-13 rated. But I've read Beyond the Picket Fence two or three times and I've loved it ever time!

Striving For Genuine Interest

To Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss ... "The common things of common life appealed to her sympathies and called out all her attention. It was a real, hearty interest, too, not feigned, even in a sense generally thought praiseworthy. Indeed, no one ever had a more intense scorn of every sort of feigned. She was honest, truthful, genuine to the highest degree. It may have sometimes led her into seeming lack of courtesy, but even this was a failing that "leaned to virtue's side." I chanced to know of her once calling with a friend on a country neighbor, finding the good housewife busy over a rag carpet, Mrs. Prentiss, who had never seen one of these bits of rural manufacture in its elementary processes, was full of questions and interest, thereby quiet evidently pleasing the unassuming artist in assorted rags and homemade dyes. When the visitors were safely outside the door, Mrs. Prentiss's friend turned to her with the exclamation, "What tact you have! She really thought you were interested in her work!" The quick blood sprang into Mrs. Prentiss's face, and she turned upon her friend a look of amazement and rebuke. "Tact!" she said. "I despise such tact! Do you think I would look or act a lie?""

~George L. Prentiss ~ Stepping Heavenward Introductory Note

This paragraph got me thinking about how genuine I am when someone shows me things. Am I truly interested, as I ought to be, or is it just a show to make the person feel or think that I'm interested, even though I'd rather be doing, looking or talking about something else? It just really made me check myself and strive to be truly interested in the things of other people.

-X- Spoons -X-

Here is my spoon "up-date". I tried a spoon in my coffee, it was so wonderful, just a hint of chocolate in my coffee. :) It was yummy. However, I tried a spoon (Okay, that sounds really weird, to "try" a spoon. :) Anyway.) in some black tea. That didn't taste so swell. I've come to the conclusion that if you want to use spoons for tea then white chocolate would be the route to go rather then brown. I also thought, maybe if you want to use your spoons for tea, melt white chocolate and put a couple drops of mint flavoring (or any other flavoring you would like) in the chocolate and then mix and dip. I think tea with a mint, white chocolate flavor would taste pretty good. :) Anyway, there is my up date. :) Anybody try the spoons yet?

Give the gift of spoons this season. :)

^*^A Yummy Fun Idea^*^

It has been snowing all day today and I was looking through my cookbook to find something yummy to make for dinner and I came across a fun thing I've been wanting to try. I did find something to make for dinner, but fear not, this was not it. :)

Since it is snowing and rather cold who wouldn't drink hot tea, coffee, cider, etc.? So here's what I tried. :) Spoons dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with yummy-ness. :) I'll let you know how they turn out. They have to finish drying before I use them. :)

If you try it, let me know how your's turned out and what you did with them. For instance: white chocolate in stead of brown, different sprinkles, no sprinkle, etc. I'd really love to know! Maybe I'll make a post about different ways to make dipped spoons if I get enough replies with ideas *hint, hint*. :) You could also give them as gifts. Dip plastic spoons and when they dry put plastic wrap around them and tie it on with a ribbon or string.

The snow outside my house. :) So cozy!

~The tree~

We've had our tree up since the day after Thanksgiving, I just haven't posted about it. :) But now I am. So here ya go.

Yes, the tree is fake so we have to "fluff" it. And well, I guess you kind of have to pay attention to which way you're fluffing it. :) My little brother E fluffed it sideways. See the part in front of the branch that attaches to the tree? Yup, sideways. :)(Left)The tree all fluffed. (Right)The tree all decorated with beauties!

The beautiful tree skirt.

The pinecones!!

A beautiful Fairy Princess Dress, handmade by my amazing sister-in-law, Katya. :) No sewing machine. She's so amazing! I love my fairy princess dress, complete with little hanger. :)The Tag. Hehe, Kat. :)-