Author: Timelesslady

Married with children and grandchildren. Reader, writer, painter - maybe a bit of an artist. Gardener... Led by the Spirit.

Plants – Geraniums Reborn

On By TimelessladyIn Plants3 Comments

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These geraniums might look like something headed for the compost heap, but take a second look. Do you see the green leaves? This is new growth sprouting from what seemed dead and gone. In the Fall of the year I pulled my geraniums from the ground, shook of excess dirt from the roots, and placed them inside this basin. I put them in a corner of my garage and pretty much forgot about them. This week I noticed they were sending out new growth so I brought them inside and potted them up. I’ll update their progress in a few weeks. More information on saving geraniums in this way can be found here: Over-wintering geranium plants.

Quirkiness – Upcycled sidewalk/Rock Garden

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness1 Comment

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On a recent bike ride I came upon this amazing rock garden just waiting to burst into bloom once again. When I took a closer look I saw that it was made up of recycled sidewalk pieces. I love the beautiful light yellow the creator of the garden chose to paint the tops. I also appreciate the wide-eyed frog guarding his sunny turf.

Perspective – Hello Spring

On By TimelessladyIn PerspectiveLeave a comment

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Many robins have seemed to overwinter here in Southern New Jersey, but still…the sight of this perky bird sitting in a tree loaded with leaf buds seems to shout out, “Hello Spring…Welcome!”

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Perspective – Saying Good-bye to Winter

On By TimelessladyIn PerspectiveLeave a comment


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The cold winds of winter are still blowing, but there is a brightness in the air. Birds are singing their courting songs. The calendar cannot be denied. Winter is ending…tomorrow Spring arrives.

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The trees are beginning to flush out in buds of red. Good-bye Winter…

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“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Photographs taken in the Pitman Grove Camp.

For more information on the Pitman Grove: Pitman Grove Camp Meeting

Product and Planting – Glad Press’n Seal and Seedling Progress

On By TimelessladyIn Planting, ProductLeave a comment

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Glad Press’n Seal is one of my favorite Garden Accessories. When I sow seedlings nothing works better for sealing in the moisture and creating a mini-greenhouse effect.

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The photo above shows one of my hanging planters with Glad Press’n Seal

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Within a week my tomatoes were up and beginning to grow. Time to take off the Press’n Seal and watch their progress. When the plants are at this stage I must check each pot daily to make sure they are not drying out.

Psalm and Plants – Ranunculus Flowers

On By TimelessladyIn Plants, Psalms and Proverbs1 Comment

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“Shout for joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”

Psalm 66:1-4

Postcards – Spring and Easter

On By TimelessladyIn PostcardsLeave a comment

I’ve been looking through my postcard selection and setting aside some Easter and Springtime postals to place into tri-folded paper once again. Check out my Valentine’s Post on how to make these simple display pieces.

Displaying your Postcards

I’ve also included a close-up look at a few of the postcards with a translation of their endearing messages. Happy Spring!

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“We got home after a fashion. Fred was car sick but lays it to your beans. We were dead tired all three kids slept all the way. We were scattered all over the car. Robert is nearly well. I shall look for all of you a week from Sunday. Good by, Ida”
 

(Postcard does not have a date but according the appearance and the stamp I would guess it was sent between 1909 and 1914.)

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The postcard above was sent in 1912. It reads as follows:

(? ?) “Dear Mabel, This is a beautiful day but cold yet and we have plenty of snow yet they say it is ten feet deep on the side of the road between here and Madrid now. I had a letter from Maud and (?) yesterday and one from your mama this is all I will write this week. Danah Anne has not got so she can sew any yet. Grandma”
 

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This Easter Postcard was sent in 1908. I love to read the words, enjoy the lack of grammar, and take delight in the phrasing which is so different than the way we speak now. Enjoy the Easter message:

“How do you like your new home by this time? We don’t have no school for a few days not until they fumigate the measles all out. We are all well and hoping you’s are all the same. Stella (?)”
On By TimelessladyIn QuirkinessLeave a comment

A note from Minding My P’s with Q: I enjoyed and agreed with this post by Shelley Wilson. I asked her permission to reblog it to my own blog. She graciously agreed, “Thanks so much Shelley.”

Shelley Wilson Art's avatarShelley Wilson

It’s kind of like exercise – if you miss a few visits to the gym it gets hard to go back.  Once you’re going there regularly, it’s easy to keep going.  Oh, in the past few months I’ve done a little colored pencil, some sketching, and a bit of watercolor (a TINY bit).  Yesterday, though, I got out the tubes of oil paint and squeezed a little bit onto the palette.  I didn’t want to waste it if I lost my nerve and gave up.  I ended up going through two more dollops of each color.  Granted – the areas I painted are still very rough, but I’m able to see where it’s going.

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The best part was how it felt to paint.  This time something I read in a book kept sounding in my mind.  The book is called Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your…

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Plant – Pansies Mean Spring!

On By TimelessladyIn Plants1 Comment

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Buying a flat of pansies in the waning days of winter always fills my heart with joy. The yellow and lavender color combination found in the Morpheus variety is beautiful. I also love the whiskery lines on the petals, they give the flower a cat-like look. As I planted these flowers in pots and baskets I almost heard them shouting out, “Hello Spring!”

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Project – Upcycled Frames

On By TimelessladyIn Projects1 Comment

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A few years ago I found four small wooden frames at a yard sale for only a few pennies each. Of course I bought them, and stuck them away until inspiration struck. That time is now! I have four grandchildren and a multitude of adorable pictures of them to display on my fridge. What better way to do that than in frames specially crafted to match the kitchen and highlight their cuteness all at the same time.

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I coated the frames with Folk Art’s Hauser Green shade. Oh the loveliness of that apple green! I let the paint sit for a minute or two, and then before it dried too much, I gently wiped away a bit of the paint from the gold trim with a napkin. Voila! I was left with amazing gold highlights shining through the green.

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I added some heavy duty magnets on the back, inserted the pictures and hung them on my fridge. I smile every time I see the sweet faces framed in green and gold.

Planting – Heat and Light

On By TimelessladyIn PlantingLeave a comment

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This year I have begun planting my seeds for indoor growing a bit later than usual. In hopes of jump-starting the growth process with extra heat and light I have enclosed my light table with a mylar blanket. These can be found in the camping sections of retail and sporting stores. I found mine at Kmart and I have purchased them in the past at Walmart. They are also great to have in your glove compartment in the event of an emergency situation. Since my light table is in the basement, I also brought a brooder lamp for extra warmth. The soil in my seedling containers warms up quickly when the bulb is plugged in, and the light of the table as a whole is a bit brighter with the reflective blanket in place. I must be very diligent in checking the soil for drying out. If you go this route be sure to check your seedlings a minimum of twice a day. If you are going to be away for longer than eight hours it is best to unplug the heat lamp.

Phavorites & Philm – Enchanted April

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This is one of the movies I put in the DVD/Video player when I am feeling ill or blue. The first time I saw this gentle story I did not care much for the slow pace, but I am so glad I gave it a second chance. I have viewed the movie many times since that first glimpse into the story, and I never tire of it’s timeless appeal.

Favorite scene: Mellersh standing in hallway wearing only a  towel after bathroom blows up around him. Funny.

Peace – Snowdrops and New Life

On By TimelessladyIn PeaceLeave a comment

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

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Projects – Stained Glass Easter Eggs

On By TimelessladyIn Projects1 Comment

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This week my grandsons and I created stained glass Easter eggs from waxed paper and crayons. The process must involve the participation of an adult.

SUPPLIES

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To start, I tore away the crayon paper and chopped them into bits with a large knife, much as if I was chopping nuts. The crayons chop easily, but also fly about a bit. Children can create their own crayon bits by tearing away the paper and sharpening the crayon into fragments. This method takes quite a bit of time. Since I planned on creating three dozen eggs it was easier for me to prepare in advance.

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Egg cartons are the perfect container for the chips.

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I used a cookie cutter as a pattern, several egg patterns can be found at this link: Egg Patterns. Our eggs are about six inches in length. This was an easy size to handle and large enough to display the colors and patterns.

In retrospect, I wish I had traced with something other than a marker, but can’t think of what might withstand the heat of the iron and still show up for cutting. The process causing a bit of steaming and light smoke to fill the room. It’s a good idea to have some sort of ventilation when you begin (kitchen fan or a slightly open window) If anyone has a good idea for tracing please let me know via the comment sections below and I will edit the post to include your ideas. Thanks!

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The boys scattered chips of crayon into the pattern with small measuring spoons. It’s best to limit each eggs choice of color to three, any more than that and you get a muddy look.

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An adult needs to complete the next step. Fold over the waxed paper or cover with another sheet. If you are using a good iron cover with newspaper. Since I used a craft iron that is specifically used for messy crafts, I ironed directly on the waxed paper so I could see the progression of the melting. Here’s a step by step look at the bits melting into the finished design.

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At this point lay the egg aside to completely dry. This only takes a minute or two. When it is cool and the wax hardened, cut the egg out with scissors.

I hang my eggs by using glue stick on the back and placing them directly on the windows. The glue dries clear, and upon removal is easy to wipe away with a wet washcloth before cleaning your windows with Windex.

We found using a large amount of chips equaled a vibrant, colorful egg. To create a more pastel appearance, such as the last egg featured below, use less chips.

Here a few samples of our Easter eggs. I hope you will give this beautiful craft a try.

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Problem-Solving – Naughty Squirrels

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness1 Comment

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This is my clothesline, well at least a portion of my clothesline…

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This is the other half of my clothesline, as you can see, laying on the ground instead of up in the air.

Considering the chewed end, and taking into account this is the third time I have encountered a downed line this winter, I am pretty sure the resident squirrels are the culprits.

I don’t know if they consider the line attached to their tree to be in bad taste, or if they are using fluff from inside the clothesline to line their nest, or perhaps they are just ornery…who knows? At least they haven’t bitten through while there have been clothes present.

I’m not sure of the solution. Luckily, we have spare rope set aside, and will once again square knot on the amount of line we need. Last time the squirrels stole about twelve feet! I know, I know, what can squirrels possibly do with that much clothesline? I have no idea!

I’m trying to think of something very repellent that I can put on the end this time, but I must be careful, I don’t want it to act as a wick and taint the whole piece. Squirrels! Bah!

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In the meantime, I’m putting out these yarn scraps, leftovers from my hanging seed pots. I saved them for the birds, to soften up their nests. Maybe it will act as a peace offering of sorts, and the squirrels will use the yarn as bedding and leave my clothesline alone.

Planting – Sowing Seeds Part III/Small Seeds

On By TimelessladyIn Planting3 Comments

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My coleus seedlings are sprouting. To guard against damping off diseases I keep the seeds spaced apart. I have found in the past that crowding seedlings invites disease.

Coleus seeds, among many others, are smaller than the head of a pin. Sowing them in neat rows can be a daunting task. To accomplish this with as little frustration as possible I use water and a pencil.

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An explanation of this technique can be found here: Planting Small Seeds

Below you will find some samples of last year’s coleus plants:

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Planting – Sowing Seeds Part II/Hanging Gardens

On By TimelessladyIn Planting, Quirkiness1 Comment

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I sowed several varieties of tomatoes and eggplant yesterday. Because these plants love warmer temperatures I decided to forgo winter sowing for them and planted them indoors. Last year, my tomatoes did very well in my sunniest windows, but space on the shelves and tables in front of these windows soon became a problem. Since I save my light table space for lower growing plants, I crossed that option off my list. Instead I decided to put a Pinterest idea into practice.

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To begin, I gathered together a few of the empty juice containers I have been saving. Since I prefer milk cartons for outdoor winter sowing, I have at least two dozen or more  juice containers cleaned and ready to use. I also rounded up an old net scubber, rubber bands, thick yarn, and of course seed starting medium.

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After cutting the juice bottle 1/3 up from the bottom, I was left with a good sized top section. I covered the top opening with a doubled up portion of netting and secured it in place with a rubber band.

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I turned the top portion upside down and added the seed starting medium, planted the seeds, and added a tag cut out of a recycled detergent bottle.

Using a skein of extra thick yarn, I fashioned rudimentary macrame plant hangers over my extra strength curtain rods and hung my gardens. Every time I see them silhouetted in my back window I smile. Hurry Spring!

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Planting – Sowing Seeds Part I/Winter Sowing

On By TimelessladyIn PlantingLeave a comment

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In January of 2012 I wrote of my first attempts at Winter Sowing. The original blog post along with a follow-up post can be found here:

Winter Sowing
Winter Sowing 2012

As you can see from the photographs above and below, I have winter sown many seeds again.

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Garden web has a forum dedicated to winter sowing. The link can be found below:

Gardenweb Winter Sowing Forum.

Here are a few containers I stored by attaching them with pipe cleaners to coat hangers. I then hung them until they were needed from basement rafters.

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Here’s a terrific site I found just today with plenty of good lists on what to sow and when: Terrific Winter Sowing list for what to sow and when. Take a Look.

If you live in a cool climate area there is still plenty of time to winter sow. Give it a try!

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Promise & Preparedness – The Revelation of John the Divine

On By TimelessladyIn Preparedness, PromiseLeave a comment

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I have always loved the image in the photograph above. The painting, attributed to artist Lindberg Heilige Schutzengel, shows a Guardian Angel protecting two children crossing a dangerous bridge. A similar painting hung in my grandparent’s home. As a child, the painting fascinated me. I can remember standing beneath it, and feeling protected by its silent promise.

Lately, so much of what seemed secure is crumbling. Even the earth below our feet is becoming much like the dangerous bridge, ready to fall apart beneath us. I have been watching recent events and disasters and there certainly does seem to be many Biblical prophecies being fulfilled by collapsing world governments, disappearing rights and freedoms, cataclysms on earth and in the heavens above. Many technologies are in place that could bring to fulfillment Bible prophecies that once seemed hard to understand.

I have begun to read Revelation yet again, this time in a Bible that also has some insight and commentary by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

The text of Revelation can be found here: Text of Revelation

You can read a bit about Spurgeon here:

Charles Haddon Spurgeon
In-Depth Biography of Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I recommend that you read Revelation, even better, read some of the verses aloud. Ask God for discernment, and to imprint its words and message upon your heart and soul.

“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” Revelation 1:3

Listen to Spurgeon’s words concerning reading and studying Revelation:

“To induce us to give the most serious attention to the subject, a blessing is pronounced on those who ‘read, and hear, and keep,’ the words of this prophecy, especially as the time of its fulfillment was at hand. There does not appear to be any other part of Scripture that is prefaced with such an inducement to read, and understand, and practically regard it.”

One word of caution, there are hundreds upon hundreds of theories on the Internet about the meanings of these verses. Be forewarned, there are a few words of wisdom, but there is much argument and complete foolishness too. Again, it’s best to read the words yourself and as you read and study, pray for discernment in not just this, but in everything concerning these precarious times we are living in. God Bless Us All.

A good site with many verses concerning prophecy:
48 Bible Prophecy Verses