New Jewelry Etsy Store & Giveaway!

My friend, Marilyn, at A Mixed Bouquet, is a woman of many talents. I think I sometimes embarrass her by singing her praises, but she really is an amazing person. She can do so many things, and do them well. She's always encouraging me that I can, too; so you can add exhorter to her long list of good qualities.

Marilyn creates beautiful jewelry, and has opened her own Etsy store to enable others to purchase it. I've looked at a lot of sites online that sell jewelry, and in comparison, I think her prices are really good! She always puts God first in her life, second only to her family. I'm praying He'll now bless her with many customers, who will in turn be blessed by obtaining her lovely creations!

To kick-off the grand opening of her Etsy store, Marilyn is having a giveaway contest. The prize is a beautiful birthstone bracelet. The winner gets to choose their own choice of birthstone color. You can see a picture of the bracelet, as well as get the details for entering her contest, at this blog post.


Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.
~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

It's Blog Fodder, Baby!

Apple Pandowdy

Some time ago, I told Mr.Studley a story I'd heard from my Nanny about a woman who went nuts (Nanny's word for crazy) while going through menopause. The first time he saw me taking pictures of a plate of food, I think he thought the big M really had me by the throat. Trying to explain it was useless as, at that time, he didn't know what a blog even was. He still doesn't, really, but at least he knows my mental status hasn't declined....much.

Hmm....what does it need?

I'd never had Apple Pandowdy before, but it sounded really good. It was good. The problem was that I was craving Apple Crisp, but I made Apple Pandowdy instead. You know what it's like when you're really wanting a particular food like, say, spaghetti, but when you arrive at your favorite Italian restaurant, they're closed. You go somewhere else and eat an equally good meal, but it just doesn't suit you because you're still thinking about that spaghetti.

That's how I was with the Apple Pandowdy. I should've saved it for another day and made the Apple Crisp. My solution? Make both. That's right, I went ahead and made a pan of Apple Crisp, so now we have both. To justify it, I reckoned to myself that I really did need to use up the rest of that markdown bag of Granny Smith apples. Besides, I know my next door neighbors have a sweet tooth.

Ah, yes. Come to Mama!

Apple Crisp

I want to thank you all for the comments on my blog's facelift. I would like to point out that the package of graphics Marilyn purchased from Karla's Korner Shoppe to design my blog came with a LOT more graphics than what we used. Hence, Marilyn could have added a lot more design qualities to my blog's face. As she pointed out in a comment, I stressed I was a 'minimalist'. I did design the blog to my specifications, and she did it exactly as I requested. So, yeah, Marilyn, I guess I did "design" it (using Karla's graphics, of course!), but we both know I could design 'til the cows come home, and my blog would still have it's old face, as I don't know the first thing about the actual hands-on 'doing' of it. I just know I'm pleased, and for that, I thank you, Marilyn (and Karla!).

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.
~Proverbs 17:9 Amplified Bible

TaDa!

Quite some time ago, my good friend, Marilyn, at A Mixed Bouqet, offered to spruce up my blog for me. Several weeks went along, maybe months, while I was supposed to be thinking of what I wanted my blog to look like. I was reading blogs one day when I happened to land at Karla's Korner. I don't even remember how I ended up there, but I immediately e-mailed Marilyn and said, "I really like the look of this lady's blog". I thought I was just giving Marilyn an idea of what I like. The next thing I know, Marilyn's writing me back that Karla offers clip-art packages for sale, and she is going to buy one and redo my blog with it. I didn't want her paying for it, but she can be quite stubborn. It may be her only fault. ;-) Kidding, Marilyn, I'm kidding!

Since I'm the total opposite of a computer geek, meaning I know nussink, I couldn't help but wonder if Marilyn regretted her offer at any time. Everything she asked me was met with a "huh?" or "whaddyamean?". I can't overestimate the degree of my lack of computer know-how. It simply doesn't exist. Fortunately for me, I'm blessed with a friend who has enough of it for both of us. She often claims otherwise. Her only fault is modesty....well that and that stubborn thing.

There is more work to be done yet. I'll be adding back in the items in my sidebar. Hopefully I won't forget anyone or anything. Meanwhile, I'm pleased as punch with Karla's pictures and Marilyn's efforts.

Thank you, Marilyn!

PS-Karla's having a giveaway right now for a $50 gift shopping spree to her blogstore or her webstore. She's got some great stuff, and she's a truly sweet christian lady. Check it out!

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That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
~Corinthians 2:5

Wyoming Breezes, Happy Birthday!

I just learned that today is Nancy's birthday, at Wyoming Breezes. I discovered Nancy's blog a few months ago and have been a regular reader ever since. Nancy's devotion to knitting for charity has been a great source of inspiration to me. To see just how tireless her efforts are, one has only to look at the "Finished in 2008" list of projects in the sidebar of her blog. She has blessed so many!

Happy Birthday, Nancy!

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Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established.
~Proverbs 16:3

Birthday cake courtesy of http://www.clipartguide.com.

Socks Done!

I feel really good about this pair of socks, primarily because it is my first completed pair of adult socks.

They fit well until after I blocked them. Now they feel a bit loose. My sock blockers aren't the greatest. I saw a tutorial for making your own sock blockers out of a plastic placemat. Being eternally frugal, I figured that was just the ticket for me. I may be frugal, but I'm also impatient. I took a few shortcuts, as in I didn't really follow the steps at all. I just used the 'idea'. I grabbed a pencil, lay one of my completed socks on the placemat, then drew a line around it and cut. One ended up larger than the other. I guess that's okay, though, as one of my feet is a half size larger than the other.

Honestly, I'm not sure I even see the point of sock blockers other than that the socks photograph nicer when on blockers than just lying on a table; and taking a picture of your own feet at a flattering angle isn't a skill I seem to possess. The placemat was only seventy-nine cents at Big Lots, so I may buy another one and try again, just for the sake of pictures.

I also found another 'make your own sock blockers' tutorial using a plastic coated wire coat hanger. I was going to try it but I didn't have any plastic coated wire coat hangers in the house.

No... wire... hangers!

What's this? No gusset hole? That's right, folks, no gusset hole this time. Actually there was a small one on one side of one sock, and a barely persceptible one on the other side of it. This sock has no sign of holes. I guess I just need to practice, since I did everything the same way on both socks.

I went to my weekly knit night tonight. We seriously need to come up with a name for our group (MICHELLE, hint hint). I started to tell my tornado story (#5 on my meme), when Michelle informed me she'd already heard it, yep, read it on my blog. Now I'm wondering how smart it was to have informed my group I have a blog. Seriously, my life is not exactly a wild ride. If my friends-with-skin read of the little excitement there is in my life, what's left for me to talk about in person? I do good to come up with a little somethin' to blog about on occasion. It's asking too much to come up with knit night conversation fodder as well. I've simply got to get out more.

(kudos to those who got the Joan Crawford reference)

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.

~Romans 12:10 NKJV

The Blessings of Friendship

Isn't that just the sweetest little thing? It's a Lenox porcelain figurine of a Marsh Wren. My sweet, sweet friend, Sharon, of Trees Planted by the Water surprised me with it in the mail this week. She knows of my love of birds and felt moved to buy me this. She couldn't know of my particular affinity for Wrens. They're such tiny little birds, so cute and curious. I literally squealed with delight when I opened the package!

I've known Sharon for roughly ten years now, having met over at the Homeschooler's Swap message board forum, back when I was still homeschooling my (now grown) daughter. Sharon was moderating their prayer & praise forum at the time. I quickly realized this is a woman who knows how to pray the Word of God. When you find someone like that, you latch on to them!

Many is the time that I've been going through a particular struggle, when out of the blue, Sharon would call and start praying over me. She wouldn't be privy to whatever issue I was dealing with when she called, but she does listen to the Holy Spirit.

I learned alot from Sharon. I'm still learning from her. I'm still being blessed by her.

As I was trying to decide where to sit my little Marsh Wren, I realized I have three birds given to me by Swappies (what we call ourselves over at the Homeschooler's Swap ). The little Robin on the left was given to me in an Elephant Swap we had over there one year, by Momma Said . It used to be attached to a flower vase which I broke :-( The pretty blue bird on the right was also given to me in an Elephant Swap by my dear friend, Amy, of A Redeemed Sheep . It would seem that all who get to know me, discover my love of birds. ;-)

I hope you all have a good week. If you think of it, throw out some seed or bread crumbs for the birds. Then take the time to watch them awhile. God does.

.....and yet not one of the birds falls to the earth without your Father knowing it.

~Matthew 10:29b (New Life Version)

Visions of Grandeur

My house

Actually, this is the view from the back of my house. I didn't feel like making the quarter mile trek around to the front.

My reflection pool

Looks like my poolman's slacking off on the job. Look at all those leaves on the water. Tsk, tsk.

View off my back veranda
~Care for a mint julep, anyone?

My flower gardens

Someone should really sweep the walkway. Just what am I paying the gardener for, anyway?

Okay, so I told a teenie weenie white lie. It's not really my house. I'm betting you guessed that, though. Or maybe you thought you'd stumbled onto someone with great wealth. Um, yeah, that's why I'm using a free blogging service. Not that I'm saying anything against Blogger. I'm just sayin'.

The truth about the house? It's Glensheen in Duluth, Minnesota, also known as the Congdon Mansion. My husband and I took an awesome tour there back in the fall. My good friend, Vicki (who's blogless) is a tour guide there. She and I met on the Swap about ten years ago. We met in person last October. It was akin to meeting a long lost twin separated at birth and adopted out to a different family thousands of miles away. We even look identical. She's tall, slender, and beautiful. I'm not quite tall, not exactly slender (okay, I'm not even close) and not quite beautiful, but other than that, we're mirror images!

Vicki took us on an extended tour of the mansion. She's a walking Glensheen encyclopedia. If you've got a question about Glensheen, I promise you, Vicki can answer it. Those who've heard of it may also have heard of the notorious murders that took place there back in the 70's. Vicki has read everything that's been published and available on the subject. She's a natural as a tour guide. She not only held us all in rapt attention but had us in stitches with laughter as well. Yes, she's funny and beautiful. Like I said, identical twins.

It wasn't that long ago that tour guides weren't even allowed to discuss the murders at Glensheen. Though they still can't bring up the subject of the murders, they can now answer questions if asked, so we discreetly asked Vicki if those were blood stains we saw on the wall and floor in a particular location. They were. They weren't really gruesome to look at so much as gruesome in knowing what the stains were and how they got there.

The 39 room mansion was unlike anything I'd ever imagined. Talk about wealth (which we were), a phenominal amount of money was spent to build the house early in the 20th century. The Congdon couple who had the house built were neither one born with silver spoons in their mouths, either. I could go on and on and on with many fascinating facts about this family, about the mansion, and about the murders. I won't, though. I am not well enough informed to do the story justice. If you're interested in that sort of thing, do some research. I assure you, it's all quite fascinating.

There is a book about the murders which my friend Vicki highly recommends, titled "Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes & Trials Surrounding the Glensheen Killings". She loaned me the book. She sent it all the way from Duluth, Minnesota down to Texas so her good friend and long lost twin could read it before going on the tour, but I never got around to reading it. I have no excuse. Fortunately Vicki is forgiving. After all, she is my twin.

It goes without saying that the murders were a tragedy (though I'm saying it), and I don't know if the house would be as famous otherwise, but I think it would definitely draw people in to see it's beauty on it's own merit. It's a marvelous structure which was way ahead of it's time in the modern conveniences it contained, and it is positively gorgeous, like my friend, Vicki.

I wish it were my house.