One misty, moisty morning

This morning brought to mind an old English nursery rhyme.  I never remember more than the first two lines, but those 2 lines always pop into my brain on the first fall morning when I walk outside and the world is shrouded in a thick layer of fog.

           One misty, moisty morning,

           When cloudy was the weather,
           I chanced to meet an old man

           Clothed all in leather:
           He began to compliment,
           And I began to grin–
           “How do you do?” and “How do you do?”
            And “How do you do?” again!

                             From Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations

Fall is my favorite time of year and October is the best month of all.  I love the crisp mornings and the changing colors - the flannel shirts and snuggly sweaters - the beautiful mums and variety of pumpkins and other gourds.  

Immediately after Labor Day weekend, I have to pull out the tubs and do the "fall-thing" to our house.  Yes - it was as hot as blue blazes when I pulled them out, but the calendar said September, so October was next-in-line.  It was all done well before the first cool day, but that's ok.  It makes me smile to see little hints of fall scattered throughout our home.  

May you see the beauty of God's creation all around you this fall.

Blessings ~ Letitia

Beautiful Summer Day

Beautiful - Summer- Day - in July???  What's up with that?  Yes - it is hot and humid - it's mid-July in Arkansas.  Historically, the only thing harder for me to face than mid-July in Arkansas - is AUGUST.  I have not been a summer person since moving to a job that required working all summer.  You know - summer has always been fine until the 5th of July, then I'm ready for it to be over.  Let's just move on to Labor Day with the promise of cooler days to follow.

I had an "ah-ha" moment this morning.  I am enjoying this summer.  I will admit that the hot days have been interspersed with some not-so-hot days, but even the hot ones have been OK.  We've done some traveling and visiting and I've spent time working in the yard - cooking - sewing - reading - studying - and it has all been good - because of summer not in spite of it.

I've read and done my Bible study outside - early in the morning.  It has been wonderful.  Menus and activities have been planned - taking the heat into account.  Curious that it has taken me so many of my adult years to figure this out.  It is possible for me to enjoy summer - when I work with it and not fuss about it!

Speaking of planning menus for summer.  I decided that I wanted to make a cool, light dessert - easy to make - and not too bad for us.  I found a promising one on Pinterest yesterday.  I followed the link to the original blog and it has great pictures and easy-to-follow directions for a "No-Bake Chocolate Eclair Dessert".  Checkout her recipe and directions at http://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2012/03/no-bake-chocolate-eclair-dessert.html.

Now for my version.  I used her recipe, but substituted lower fat and lower sugar options through-out.  If it tastes nearly as good as it looks and smells, we are in for a treat tonight.

My version of the filling has sugar-free vanilla pudding, low-fat milk, and Cool-Whip Free layered with low-fat graham crackers.  The chocolate glaze has cocoa, Truvia Blend, and butter.  Chocolate glaze needs butter.  I tasted the pudding/cool whip mixture and the chocolate glaze and they were both super yummy.  It is chilling now and I can't wait to pull it out for dinner tonight with my grilled lean chops and fresh green beans and new potatoes!

Have a great beautiful summer day!

Blessings ~

King and Ballard Antiques and Collectibles

Sounds impressive, or at least official.  Jenn and I started talking about getting a booth at an antique mall/flea market several years ago.  We started buying a few things here and there - carefully logging them in our journal and packing them away.  Next, came the desire/need to downsize my collection of "stuff" because there was NO place to put anymore of anything.  My little house was full. Then I got married and I only thought it was full before.  THEN, my Dad brought down all of the boxes of stuff that had been packed away for years.  OH MY - do I ever have stuff!  I have taken the plunge.  On May 5, the first of many things to sell went to our dealer booth at a nearby antiques and collectibles mall.  Hopefully, we will sell enough to pay the rent.  Either way, it's fun and I just have to remember to SELL and not to BUY which is very tempting when you walk by neat stuff 3-4 times a week.  Enjoy your day!

Blessings ~ Letitia
                                                                                         

A Beautiful Monday and More

Good Monday Morning!  The sun is shining - the air is warm - flowers are blooming and the birds are singing.  It is a beautiful day in Central Arkansas.  I'm taking a short break from my spring cleaning and thinking about what I want to plant this year to write a bit.

So - for an update on More.   I know that Less is the idea that people are pursuing now.  Less stuff - less stress - less waste, etc.  But Less isn't where I need to be.  In January, I set my goals of  Praying More - Volunteering More - Sharing More and Finishing More.  If you read this blog,you know sharing more hasn't happened so let's just skip that one.

Praying More

 I am doing an online book study with Renee Swope, author of "A Confident Heart."  Have you ever read a book where you feel the author is talking about your life in EVERY chapter?  Yes - pretty much - this is it for me.  To do this study requires much prayer and soul-searching - or at least it is for me.  I am also using a wonderful devotional that John bought me for Christmas, Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace in His Presence.  Each daily entry has 2-3 scripture references that I am spending time with.  Between the two books and the time spent in prayer, I am in a better place than I have been in for a long time.




Finishing More

I am finding time every single day to do a creative thing - sewing, knitting, writing, whatever the day brings.  I was raised believing that no play happened until all the chores were done.  Well heavens - the chores are NEVER all done.  I still struggle with this and I am trying not to feel guilty writing right now, because I have laundry to do and spring cleaning to continue.  I know it is about balance and for me that involves pushing through some guilt to do the things that make me who I am.  So laundry and cleaning can wait a few more minutes while I write and think.

Volunteering More

I have always thought that my volunteering needed to be something with kids or something about missions.  After all - I was an educator for 35 year - I am a Christian.  Surely that's where I am SUPPOSED to volunteer.  I have discovered that volunteering isn't about where you think you SHOULD be volunteering, but rather about where your heart is.  I love to sew and knit and make things and garden and so much more.  I have loved going to Mountain View for 30 years and talking to the artisans and craftsmen and listening to the music.  Thanks to a good friend telling me about the Committee of One Hundred for the Ozark Folk Center and getting me involved, I have found my place.  I am working with a great group of women on the Board, in PR, and on the Committee at large doing things to support ideas and people who are dear to my heart.  Volunteering isn't work at all when you love what you are doing.  (Thanks Carol!!)  Check out our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/COOHOzarkFolkCenter and the Ozark Folk Center State Park website http://www.ozarkfolkcenter.com/  for more information on some great things that are going on in our state.  (Any hints for managing a Facebook page would be appreciated since I am very new at this.)

Have a great week!

Blessings ~ Letitia

Finish More - Knitted Color-Block Throw

Last winter I visited Rabbit's Lair, which is an amazing quilt and fiber shop in Northwest Arkansas. They are one of my favorite shops and time spent in there - surrounded by much beauty - is time well-spent.  Of course the trick is to carefully manage the money spent at the same time. 

When I walked in the door, a beautiful jewel-toned color block throw caught my eye,  The pattern called for a lot of yarn, but was easy to knit and I decided to buy 1 skein of each color to give it a try. It turned out to be super easy to knit and was as beautiful as I remembered.  I bought the rest of the yarn to finish the throw.  For the past year the project was a "knit in the car" project and progress was fairly slow.  I recently finished the first strip of 4 and now I want it finished.

I'm now 20 inches into the second strip and I'm loving it.  Knitting and football playoffs go well together so - NFL - keep it coming and I will too!

My friends all know how many projects I have to finish and for 2013 - this will be the first of hopefully many "Finish More" projects.

Blessings ~ Letitia

A New Year - 2013

Happy New Year!!

Where did 2012 go?  I had just retired this time last year and was looking forward to the year with great anticipation.  February rolled around and I was blessed with the opportunity to take a part-time job - big enough to fund some extras, but not take all my time.  I have a 4-day weekend EVERY week!  Talk about too good to be true...

2012 passed with knitting and sewing and reading and gardening and cycling and hanging out with my DH, John.  We exercised and cooked more and ate out far less resulting in a maintained weight loss of 16 pounds.

So onto 2013...

I'm not one for making resolutions because that just makes me feel guilty and I fight that enough already.  Last year without realizing it, I looked for a theme that I wanted to to tackle - like "Cook More" that  had great results.  Now that "Cook More" is an established way of life I'm turning to my attention to thoughts of this year's theme.

Not in a "make me feel guilty" way - but in a "because it's important" way - I want to pray more, volunteer more, share more, and finish more.

Not all once because then none will happen - but in 2013 - yes...

Blessings ~ Letitia