Me in my Work Area

Lyle took this photo of me after I worked awhile, a long while. I am actually "a jammies till noon" person.  I've been known to wear them all day.  So this is not an actual photo of me working. I've fluffed up quite a bit.  It sure would be nice to have a craft room where I could shut the door to my mess--but hey--I have a kitchen!  With counters that you are not seeing! Small houses have advantages.  One needs to use their stuff or get rid of it. I better keep working!

My latest "Witness" jewelry.....

I Love Paper

I LOVE PAPER!  I can't resist a pretty piece.  My girls just smile and ask me what I plan to do with it.  I answer, "Just look at it".  I have a stash--it's not huge.  I sort it down once a year for sure.  I have room for it in my kitchen cupboards.  Some I've given away because some new pieces have become  favorites.  Once I gave some to the Bright House guy when he came to work on our internet connection.  He was telling us about his little daughter and how she loved art.  The "gift" made me feel wonderful.  Much of my paper, I cannot use.  Putting something on it or cutting it will destroy the beauty of it.  So it is mainly for admiring.
Now the good thing is--I'm not buying much paper anymore.  Now I am in the jewelry aisles in the craft stores.  I have a new stash!  Mostly junk to many of you.  I know that to be true because you give me your junk.  I get most of it at garage sales.  Much of it belonged to my relatives, both present and past.  It is very organized in little baggies that are titled and lined up in rows in my plastic bin.  We have a small house so I do all my "creating" in the kitchen.  Earlier in my life I thought I had a kitchen because it came with the house.  Finally, I know why I have one!
So what is my point, you ask.  Now my jewelry pieces are taking on the same role as paper did.  I have too many pieces to wear, but I like to look at them!  I even use some as decor--tucked here and there.  And some become gifts, of course.  But whats going to happen eventually?  My paper and my jewelry and my unused junk could end up on my hayrack!  More about that topic later.

Hide Me, Lord

I realize the game is called "Hide and Seek", but I think when it comes to knowing God, first one seeks and then He hides us. I found such an assurance in knowing He hides me, protects me, and shelters me. That is a much different kind of "hide" than "hiding from God".

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Seeking Him

Making photo books has to be my favorite thing to do. I usually make books about my grandchildren and their happenings.  Since 2009, I have been choosing a word for the year and realized how much I love words, mostly in a spiritual way.  When we lived in Edgerton, I was struck by the word, Hide.  We can hide from God or in God.  I asked our pastor, Gerrit Besteman, to do a message about Hide and Seek.  I led the singing with songs referencing the idea.  When a free book came my way, I did "Seeking You", knowing I would follow with "Hide Me".  The third one I made is "Found~Redeemed".  I thought a trilogy was nice but have now almost completed "Grow~Increase".  I primarily make them for myself and my family.  I am big on the idea of leaving a legacy, an inheritance.  Please enjoy viewing this book and reading the words that add to the effectiveness of the photo.

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Missed blogging!

I have not been blogging for a very long time!  I really did like doing it and now that I have joined the Facebook World, I am missing it more.  One reason is that I am quite a long story-teller and if I post it on Facebook, the feeling that comes over me is that I better shorten that a bit.  This story-telling ability was an inheritance from my dad.  Bedtime stories are still requested by my grandkids--possibly because they know they will get to stay awake longer.  (No, I have never had them fall asleep during a story.  Nor myself either.)  The other day I posted a photo of a table I redid with chalk paint.  I did tell quite a bit about the whole buying process but I think I would have liked it better on my blog.
I also posted a photo of a Sandhill crane checking about eating at a pizza place.  I did not tell you how I debated what the title should be.  You who know me well know that most of my greatest ideas and plans come to me while I am showering.  When "This Place is for the Birds!"  bounced into my head, I actually laughed out loud!  My main concern was that younger readers would not know the expression.  I also wanted to tell you that I laughed about that Sandhill Crane when I was going in to get a haircut.  When I was leaving, there were actually four standing by a store but by the time I got my iPad out and going, the owner came out and shooed them away.  I was upset that I missed the opportunity.  When we were driving away, I noticed they were going back.  Now, believe it or not, Lyle actually parked the car so I could get the photo!