Happy Fall everyone!

So thrilled to see all of my precious grand daughters and their parents! From the stories they shared I missed a load of fun being away visiting one of my sisters for the weekend. 

As I drove home north on Ridge Rd. I spotted the 'Charlie's Pumpkin Farm' sign. Of course...I headed in that directions and bought 5 pumpkins for 5 little ladies.

My son waved me in the drive way saying 'hurry!' They made a little camp fire in the middle of the drive last night and I guess he was worried it may still be hot...and I was driving too slow. Little camp fires? In the drive way? Yep, we do things like that all the time. It's one of many privileges of country living.

One of my grand daughters I spotted instantly as I drove in. She was disappointed about something and was drying away her tears. As soon as I gave out some hugs and kisses I went over and swooped the little one up in my arms and told her how wonderful it was to see her. It reminded of my Father in Heaven, how he swoops me up in His arms when I call on Him. I can trust Him to always be there for me. Life sure has it's ups and downs.

The girls giggled when I told them that I had pumpkins in my car trunk. They all looked to their Mother to see her expression because they were not sure if they should share that they already had pumpkins at home and bigger ones at that. "Oh that's OK...I'll decorate the porch"...BSOL (big smile out loud). I then had the feeling and was right... one of the girls wanted to take one of the pumpkins home.

The only thing that could have been better would have been a MUCH longer visit catching up on all of their lives.  My daughter in law...oh she's the best! She left me a story in the visiting book in the little ladies play room. Words are priceless and I will read her delightful sharing of all their activities all weekend many times...

Sister Rebecca 'You are the real gift'

Yesterday I gave my 'just because' gift to Sister Rebecca. Sister Rebecca is my friend, a beautiful young lady who has recently joined a Carmelite Religious Order here in Wichita. My heart and gift are both full of joy and excitement!

I am inspired by all of my Sister friends...who answered 'Yes' to His call. Blessed to have their friendship, a treasured gift. 'Heaven's Rejoicing to include Sister Rebecca in their Community'!

The gift, I'll describe...a little pot of bright pink flowers with whimsical petals...each petal twisted slightly like a whirly bird. I hot glued a bow with silk flower and I tied a little St. Anne medal outside the pot. For some reason I think that was the 'just right' medal. Maybe Rebecca's Grandmother has played a very important role in Rebecca's life as St. Anne, Mother Mary's Grandmother did. I'm not sure.

A few books went into the bright JOY gift sack. One book was written by a woman titled 'Falling in love with Jesus' and the other an old school book about drying flowers. Their Community nurture's the most beautiful flowers. A soft pair of flowered socks for fun, pretty little pads of note paper and last but not least a letter of love.

Sometimes I just leave the gift sack tag (which hangs with a string) blank to recycle but not this time. I love how the Holy Spirit prompted me to write....."You are the real gift". What a perfect Monday morning to celebrate Mass to include Father's Homily talking about famous 'St. Francis of Assisi' life. Before I headed to work I enjoyed a few savored minutes visiting briefly with my Sister friends at their car. Sister Rebecca gave me the best smile and hug. They are precious to me and I can only imagine how precious they are to our Heavenly Father! So many good works come from their hands and hearts.

(The photo is Patty Cake holding one pretty flower God left for me on the floor board of my car... it fell from Sister Rebecca's potted plant. Blessed to share the experience of my great morning with you. The flower I carefully tucked in my cool lunch container and on my lunch break I had a quick photo shoot with Patty Cake. God is so good to me.)

Pears! Pears! Get your free pears here!

I've been away for a few GREAT weeks and it's so much fun to return to blogging this morning. I'll catch you up on what I've been up to. In order to accomplish all that was on my to do list, I had to focus, focus, focus. So much to do. I can't wait to catch up 'reading your blogs' too!

We've had some very fun days visiting family & friends and today I am finishing up on my 25 days of Christmas match book swap (so cute!) with Linda at aswapforallseasons.blogspot.com, and last but not least we went on another fantastic fall vacation to Mackinaw City & Mackinac Island. I love Michigan. Our sight seeing weather perfect but the trees had only a tinge of fall color. I long to see the red maple trees in their glory. Seaside time was savored every single minute.

We attended the most lovely wedding of Annastasia and Danny in Tipp City, Ohio and headed north for four lovely days in one of our favorite vacation spots. Unfortunately...I have misplaced the memory card with the wedding photos. Oh, I'm so upset...I've looked everywhere twice. Yes, I called on St. Anthony. The wedding and reception venue was the most lovely, country Inn. We It was so beautiful and had many unique personal touches. We had an awesome time and getting away was just what we needed! The following are a few favorite photos of our weeks leading us to 'Pear Time' here at home in Valley Center, Kansas. We are amazed at our huge crop of both pear and apples. The clusters of Bartlet Pears are amazing sweet and the trees need picked again very soon. This year we take time make Grandma Eva's Pear Honey! Pies, jelly and cobbler...ummm. I'll dig out Grandpa Powell's pear honey recipe...a tastey one...I hope to share later. Seriously, we will share our pears. Just let me know if you're in the Wichita, Kansas area.







Ying's late Birthday present

Happy late Birthday to you!

Happy late Birthday to you!

Happy late Birthday dear Ying!

Happy Birthday to you!

My motto is better late than never even though I'm embarrassed. I look forward to spending time soon with my dear friend Ying. I can't wait to see what she thinks about her late birthday present and to hear more about her exciting recent trip to China (her home Country).
She, Kay and I are 'dreaming of a sea trip' to China in a coming year or two if it all works out. We have our pass ports...just not the fare...yet.

Ying, something special is waiting for you. Come see me soon!

 (photo of Ying's tea set, chop sticks and Patty Cake)

Seaside Swap fun with Ina from the Netherlands!

My Seaside Swap package is being mailed this week. Ina and I got a little late start for this swap...but a little late is better than not at all.
A preview to share with all of you....in the photo above, the little cute mermaid...I made for my swap partner Ina who lives in the Netherlands. One of the details for the swap is to include one handmade gift and this is what I came up with.

I hope that Ina will have fun putting these earrings together. There are a couple of styles to choose from. Maybe she'll choose the sea shell pattern!

Here is one of my first 'finds' for the swap. A sea shell bracelet with little light beads set in between. Very sweet!

Other little swap gift items include a sun glasses holder for the car  visor (I added the dots for the lady bug look). Other fun stuff...gifts from the sea 'beautiful little seashells', a Quilters magazine filled with crafting project ideas, a little package of 2 lace applique hearts, a new buckle luggage tag for Ina's next trip to the seaside, a miniature sewing machine 'just for fun' and inspiration, a package of country blue paper for creating package bows and last but not least...the luau Party CD...with sounds from the isles..."Kuku, Hapa 'I, Kini', On the beach of Waikiki, Paradise Island" to name a few.

I added some small pieces of pretty colored fabric from my sewing craft box for her. Ina shared that she likes to sew. Maybe she'll create something pretty with them.

I have enjoyed anchoring down for the Seaside Swap with Ina. This swap hosted by http://wwwcraftysmiles.blogspot.com/. What a neat and interesting new friend I've made! We'll try and stay in touch with one another via e-mail even though we live clear across the big beautiful Atlantic Ocean from each other. I will think about Ina when I get to a seaside, one of my favorite places I love to go. 

The Ever-Changing Sea

You can say it is blue, and green as you define the color it has turned to purple, or green, or gray, or black, or violet, and back to blue again. You can say it is restless, and while you speak the wind drops, the swells subside and from horizon to horizon there is no ripple, no flaw, no movement, only a vast sheer of pallid satin color. You can say it is calm and it rises and sweep your cost cities away, throws your ships ashore, washes the keels of the flying cloud above. A the last, when you have sailed long enough and far enough, you come to understand that the sea is everything. It is calm and restless, stormy and laughing, many-hued and one-colored, salty and fresh, warm and cold, an enemy and a friend, a help and a hindrance, a tragedy and a jest. Everything! Sufficient for every mood, for every dream for every hope, for every sorrow.

Wilbert Richard Wetien (1900-1940)

From "Way For A Sailor"

A Real Rooster and my other roosters to crow about!

"Who are the two guys in the Bravada? Don't they want to see me too?"

My cushy kitchen sink floor mat from Walmart.

"and...very true! he, he, he"

OK guys...this is true.

Plates from a favorite Newton, KS Antique Mall. My husband bought these for me.

First, thank you Barb at Bella Vista for hosting this fun rooster party!!! Barb's roosters are amazingly beautiful...check out her blog if you want to be delighted.

Don't you like stain glass lights? This rooster is a favorite in my collection...I've been blessed to find more than one or two and I pass them on to Cursillo friends. I'm a country girl at heart and I shared in an earlier comment that roosters have a special meaning to me?

A little 'nut shell' story...

 In my Catholic faith we share a Spanish word in the Cursillo Movement "De Colores" which means colors. Cursillo is another Spanish word that means "small course in Christianity". There are Cursillo weekends for both women and men. On this '3 day walk' weekend you listen to wonderful talks on all different subjects usually prepared carefully by a team of two Priests, a Sister and a large group 'very faith filled lay persons'. The talks are 'real' and inspiring both!

Now... where do the roosters come in (you may be wondering)?

Following the first Cursillo in Spain many many years ago, the bus that the pilgrims were traveling home on, broke down. The men stepped out of the bus and started singing because...gets so good here...they were so happy and filled with good grace! They decided to sing about God's love...after their fantastic weekend, receiving the Sacraments, fellowship, prayer, building community with one another...they were filled with Sanctifying Grace. It's that amazing grace we encounter when we turn our lives over completely to God.

As they began singing...a huge rainbow appeared which they noticed right away. As they looked around to their amazement...colors...colors...and more colors were evident. They saw roosters with  their beautiful colored feathers, the vivid green grass and the wild flowers. It was so beautiful. De Colores is the phrase with the special meaning...Sanctifying grace..."being so very close to God."

 Another symbol we share is the beautiful prism...catching, reflecting colors, symbols of the seven fruits of the Holy Spirit. There are walks very similar in other faiths besides the Catholic faith. If you'd like to learn more just google the word Cursillo. Maybe you could make a '3 day walk' too.

Do you like my real rooster? I couldn't believe I found him and some hens down the road last night. Must be their resting spot. Last week I saw them on my way to Church. My husband said they would like me to bring them by some bread. I'll do that today...he's right.

 Thank you for stopping by! I look forward to visiting you and your roosters too!

 De Colores!

Patty in Oz

God sent a fleet of five angels to help...on the coldest winter day!

 A story of inspiration to share...

A couple of years ago one of my brothers was in the middle of recuperating from shoulder surgery and needed to move to a better location very soon because his lease was almost up. Unfortunately, he just didn't have any friends available to help during this time. To make matters much worse, it had to be the coldest, iciest weekends in Kansas ever! I tried to stay positive and I trusted God.

I promised my brother I would help move and then I began praying. I asked God to help us 'make this move safely' and He sure did! God sent a fleet of angels...five to be exact to help us. It was the first call I placed, one week in advance and the answer on the other end of the phone line was "yes". I'm never surprised by the nature of my good friends to be there when I really need them. I realize how VERY blessed that they would be right there, so ready to help me, help my family member who was struggling. They are so good! I felt it necessary to share that money was very tight and Kay said "We aren't doing it for the money Patty, we just want to help, that's what Christians do". God 'through the generosity of these faith filled friends and family members, made the move a reality. Oh, everyone one worked so hard and it was the coldest winter day ever! My friend Virginia's two handsome strong farm sons were amazing. They even brought a flat bed truck!

The best memory of that experience was gathering and praying before we got started that early Saturday. It was much harder work than I expected and we needed to work together very carefully. We gathered holding hands in his little kitchen that morning asking God to keep us safe and and that no-one would be hurt. Praise God! No-one fell on the very slick sidewalk and driveways.

I will ALWAYS be both amazed and inspired by the the kindness that was given to help my brother. He was a stranger to a few of them and that didn't prevent them from helping out. As we finished and that last box was stacked, I remember my brother tipping everyone with a $50 bill (except me, his sis..and that was quite alright.) The move took most of the day and we were exhausted. My brother was VERY appreciative. He bought lunches, gas, shared a large thermos of hot coffee and said 'thank you' countless times. He also donated quite a HUGE bunch of good usable items to a street ministry to help someone else.

What wonderful friends, God's fleet of five angels who came to help...on the coldest winter day! I do remember the smiles...they were both warm and sincere.

Blessed beyond the imagination.

Patty

(In the photo are the gloves and head band that I wore that day. Can you see, I tried to arrange the gloves like 'praying hands'? A lot of prayers went up that day!)