Just a peek...And maybe an apology.

Sooo, I know it's been a while, and for that I do apologize. I hadn't been crocheting for a while with loss of ideas, so therefore, I stopped blogging. BUT ALAS! I am back! So, I bet you are wondering about that peek I was talking about in my title?? Well, I have decided that I want to start an Etsy shop very soon full of my crocheted goodies, so I have been crocheting quite a few things trying to create my own patterns, (which I have never done before.) So it's taken me a while to get a few things done, but now that I have my hand in creating my own its been getting easier by the project! So here is the peek I was talking about....

My first own created headband!! I love them, took me a while to work out the kinks, but I am loving making these! SO! Now you know what I am up to and what you can be looking for in my Etsy shop (soon to come.) Thanks for dropping by today!

HELP WANTED!!

Alright so I'm on the verge of a major break down! I have tried and tried for the last 4 months (since Christmas,) to sit down and really try to crochet something. To make my own pattern. But every time I do, my pattern goes crazy and I get discouraged! I need help!

1. What should I do?

2. What should I crochet?

"My Ears Had Heard, But Now My Eyes Have Seen"

I convinced Stephen to go up into the park with me, (Great Smoky Mountain National Park) this afternoon so I could take some pictures. I have never been much of a photographer, but I do like trying to be creative :) Sometimes life gets so busy that I forget to stop and breathe a prayer for the amazing place in which I live. I mean, I live IN the Smoky Mountains, NOT close to, but IN! I am so blessed!

I mean honestly, does it really get any better than this?

No. I think not :)

There is no way I can write this blog about this beautiful creation without giving credit for it to it's Creator! Although first I want to bring up another thought. When I was still a student at Wears Valley Ranch, we would memorize scripture as part of our school. My senior year, I grew very close to one of my mentors, who particularly seemed to favor the passages Job 38-42. She spoke on them during one of our evening devotions and I just couldn't help but feel in awe of how little we are and how BIG God is. It was after that, that I decided to dedicated my final scripture memorization project to these passages. And so I did, I memorized all 5 chapters. It never ceased to amaze at how every time I sat down to work on it how God would should me just one more area that He was in complete control over, and it was such an amazing feeling. A little background if you don't already know, in these specific passages, the Lord confronts Job about his incessant questioning of His perfect will and sets him straight. In the end Job repents of his unbelief and realizes how silly he had been to even doubt that the Lord had his best at heart. What a great reminder!!

So anyways, here are a few verses from chapter 38 and 42

The Lord talking to job...

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said:" 'Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like I man; I will question you and you will answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me if you understand. s Who marked off it's dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?' .....

"Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn it's place, that it might take the earth by it's edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal. It's features stand out like those of a garment." Job 38:12-14

.....

Then Job replied to the Lord:

"I know you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel with words without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Banana Bread And Guitars.

Monday I made a FANTASTIC loaf of Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, that I have not been able to stop eating since, with no help from my husband may I add. I found the recipe

online, but I thought I would go ahead and put it on here.

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/271/Banana_Choco_Chip_Bread1514.shtml, but I

Ingredients: 1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter (softened)

2 eggs -- beaten

3 mashed bananas

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Directions: Combine in order given. Bake in greased loaf pan 1 hour 350 degrees.

AND.........Voila!

Now for guitars.....

My family bought me a 12 strings a few years back when I was really getting into playing, and I loved playing it. Had a much better sound than a 12 string guitar. I've been crazy about country music all my life, and have even had the typical thoughts like, "Man, I wish I could be a country music singer, win a grammy, and tour the world." But I'm no Taylor Swift thats for sure. But I will forever and always love the sound of a bluegrass band.

Projects And Beauty

The last couple of weeks have been busy busy! But I wanted to post some of the pictures of things I had made for Christmas that I wasn't able to post before!

Here we have the tea cozy I made for a chinese christmas gift. Loved it, and so wanted to steal it back, till I caught eye of other lute that was to be had :)

Next we have the dish rags that I made as my "stocking stuffers." Loved them! Made two for each woman in my family! Loved them so much I made some for myself on the way home! Sadly to say those, these were the only pics I got of the stuff I made :(

But! I took a turn around the Ranch today and found myself faced with such marvelous beauty and creation!

Out and About

Well, this year has come and gone very quickly. Lots has happened in the course of nine months.

1st. I made a vow to spend the rest of my life with the love of my life :)

2nd. The celica was wrecked because the girl was talking on her phone and NOT paying attention! DO NOT TALK ON THE PHONE OR TEXT WHILE DRIVING!!

3rd. Stephen had his first "Grand Mal Seizure." That was the most awfulest day of my life.

4th. We got a new addition to our family on October 22nd :)

Our sweet Golden Retriever Puppy Ella! She has been such a blessing and joy to train! They grow up so fast :( When we first picked her up, she was getting over a bladder infection in which she lost weight, so she was all skin and bones. We were not sure if we were going to be able to keep her. But she has put her weight back in wonderfully! Here are some picture of her around the Ranch and how much she has grown in the two months we have had her! Our plans are to breed her in a year, Lord willing if all her health scores come back well!

Christmas...AKA...Be Creative

Alright sooo, its almost Christmas time and of course I've waited till last minute to start working on anything constructive. BUT, alas, I have gotten a few things crocheted, not all of which I can post pictures of because of who may get on and see them. BUT, I do have a few pieces of a blanket I have not put together that I have been crocheting in 4 individual pieces, and here they are, well, three of them :) Yay for Christmas time! So looking forward to sharing the rest of the projects!

Yay! My first blog!

Alright everybody! I'm so excited about this! So I'm thinking that I am going to share the thoughts I've been having the last few days. I've been watching quite a few BBC films, (older romace/mystery films) as I am crochet Christmas gifts, and I have developed the urge/desire to dress like they did then! You know like in the 1700's? Like Pride and Prejudice? Man, their beautiful long, (modest,) dresses. They had tea instead of coffee, even though I'm a sucker for the Starbucks seasonal pumpkin spice coffee :) Its wierd these phases we go through. I wish that I could just sit down in the middle of the day and have tea with friends, its the little things in life I guess :)

The other thing that has been on my heart lately is Mary, the mother of Jesus, what a strong woman she was. I also watched the Nativity Story the other day while I was crocheting and I just can't help envying her faith in the Angels words. How I wish I had faith like that. But maybe thats where it all starts? With the little seed of desire to imitate those who set such a wonderful example ahead of us! I know I can't do it on my own, in fact I almost frustrate myself trying to. Its during those times that I know the Lord is looking down on my wondering what on earth I am doing!! I can't have faith without Him! I NEED HIS strength! Makes me think of the man in the Bible who said, "Lord I believe, but help my unbelief!"