Prayer & Pressed Flowers – The Prayer Flag Project

The Prayer Flag Project

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16

I recently participated in “The Prayer Flag Project” by creating a prayer flag.

“In June of 2011, Vivika Hansen DeNegre started The Prayer Flag Project. She invited people from around the world to to join her in making Prayer Flags. Each flag is created in the artists own style, then hung outside for a while, its words and sentiment dissolving into the wind and being spread to all whom the wind touches. They are a living, breathing, kinetic journal of our hopes, dreams and concerns. The Prayer Flag Project… Join us if you’d like.”

The theme: Create a flag that incorporates “Images of leaping humans (think leap of faith), and of course maps and lettering.” My flag, and the flags of others, can be viewed by clicking on the button at the top of this post.

My initial flag was created with pressed flowers on Mulberry paper. It turned out lovely, but I realized it was too fragile to send through the mail, and most likely would not hold up being sewn to binding along the top. Here’s a peek at the finished flag.

The Dragonfly: Pressed Flower Artwork, 5 x 7, Blue Hydrangeas, Queen Anne's Lace, Seaweed, Lichen, Mulberry Leaves
The Dragonfly, pressed flower artwork, 5 x 7, Blue Hydrangeas, Queen Anne’s Lace, Seaweed, Lichen, Mulberry Leaves

Pressed Flower Tip: Hydrangeas are a good pressed flower candidate. The hard round center must be removed before pressing. Press without heat in between non-shiny pages.Lichens can be pressed flat in books. Seaweed can be dried and pressed between pages. Wildflower and tree foliage presses beautifully.

Perspective – Gratitude

“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” ~ John Milton

Live each day with a grateful heart.
Live each day with a grateful heart.

I recently, quite by accident, stumbled upon a blog post where the author decried the many people who “followed” his blog. How sad—other than the spam he mentioned, and even after reading what he called a “humorous” explanation, I can’t understand why any blogger would not want his or her blog read or followed.

Please know, I feel quite the opposite…I DELIGHT in the comments fellow bloggers and others leave on my blog. I cherish the “Likes” you are kind enough to give me. To all who visit these pages and follow my blog; I thank you with all of my heart. Blessings on your day!

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” (Philippians 2:14-15).

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” ~Henry Ward Beecher

Prose & People – A Woman’s Prayers to God

My Letters to God by S. Corrine Davis
My Letters to God by S. Corrine Davis

“My letters to God came about by my need to communicate with him on a regular basis. I need—as a Christian, a wife, and a mother notwithstanding—to pray every day.”

This beautiful book is filled with words from the author’s heart to God. Corrine Davis is a Pastor’s Wife, a mother of five, a grandmother, a wonderful cook, an amazing seamstress, a pianist; she can take anything old and make it look new again. She is an inspiration to many, and I am proud to call her my Aunt.

Here are a few quotes from, “My Letters to God.”

“Lord, I see that so many are struggling with the ‘daily stuff’ of life. And, it’s really so true for everyone. That little stuff—the nitty, gritty junk we all deal with—is sometimes what can make us or break us. All the time we are looking at the ‘big’ stuff that threatens to hit us and take us out, when in reality, I find that the junk drawer that refuses to shut is often what can wreck my relationship with you.”

“My desire is to be like Jesus. To do this, I will reevaluate my goals, my dreams, my hopes, therein finding the sweet will of God. Hold me close, Lord. Please don’t let me slip out of your grip.”

You can find “My Letters to God” from these sources:

My Letters to God by S. Corrine Davis
“My Letters to God – Kindle Edition

You can read more of S. Corrine Davis’s Prayers to God at: My Letters to God Blogspot

Phlowers & Pholklore – Daffodils II

“The daffodil is a symbol of rebirth – a sign of the new beginnings that come with spring. Daffodils are often found connected with Easter and Easter religious services because of their new birth significance. In Wales finding the first daffodil of spring is expected to bring more gold than silver to your life and home during the following 12 months. The word “Daffodil” didn’t come into the English language until the 1500s. The old name for daffodil was “Affodyle,” believed to originate with the Old English “Affo dyle,” meaning “that which cometh early.” It ultimately derived from Dutch de affodil meaning “the asphodel”(of Greek mythology).” ~oocities.org

Longwood Daffodils
Longwood Gardens Conservatory Daffodils

Daffodils are considered by many to be the best Spring bulb. Tulips are gorgeous too, but do not have the reliability of the daffodil. The sad truth is tulips eventually decline in their blooming ability. Most of us take daffodils for granted. Their abundance, created by the ability to quickly reproduce and create naturalized fields of flowers, cause many to consider them common.

This year, I almost lost a large clump of my daffodils through neglect. Accidentally uprooted when I transplanted favorite flowers to overwinter in the house, they were left exposed on the ground for months. When the ground became too frozen to replant the bulbs, I brought them into the garage.

Forgotten daffodil bulbs
Forgotten daffodil bulbs

My good intentions were soon forgotten, and the daffodil bulbs languished in an old sweet potato box for several weeks. A few days ago, I noticed them, and was overjoyed they had begun to sprout. The garage stayed cold enough through this brutal winter to give them the “chilling” time they needed. I soon had them planted in some potting soil in a terracotta pot.

Potted Daffodils
Potted Daffodils

The terracotta pot fit perfectly inside a beautiful urn, I eagerly await the blooms. Wishing you a daffodilly of a day! 😀

Daffodils
Daffodils

Praise, Poetry & Phlowers – Daffodils Part I

“So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” ~ Hosea 6:3

Longwood Daffodils
Longwood Gardens Conservatory Daffodils

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” ~ Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

 

And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”
~ William Wordsworth, I Wander’d Lonely as a Cloud

 

“Symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings, the daffodil is virtually synonymous with spring. Though their botanic name is narcissus, daffodils are sometimes called jonquils, and in England, because of their long association with Lent, they’re known as the ‘Lent Lily.'” ~ Teleflora

Longwood Daffodils
Longwood Gardens Conservatory Daffodils

Phun – Saturday Silliness

Some days you just need a good laugh!

”A merry heart doeth good like a medicine…” ~ Proverbs 17:22

I’d be “Whoopin’ and A-hollerin'” and running after the perpetrator with my purse too! So funny!

Phun – Orange You Glad???

It’s Friday, and I’m so glad the snow has stopped falling! Here are a few reminders of warmth for the Photo Challenge at WordPress:

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Orange you glad it’s photo challenge time?”

Building a Fairy House
Building a Fairy House

“What’s not to love about orange? It’s vibrant. It’s cheerful. It makes a statement. It’s the perfect punctuation for a punchy photo. This week, share a group of photos where orange is either the dominant color, or provides a bold highlight. Shoot for at least three photos, and look for different shades — bright neons, deep rusts, delicate peaches.”

Here are a few more of my “orangey” photographs to warm up a winter day.

Burnt Orange Marshmallow with Campfire
Burnt Orange Marshmallow with Campfire
Apricot Tulips at Longwood Gardens
Apricot Tulips at Longwood Gardens
East Point Lighthouse with its brick colored roof
East Point Lighthouse with its brick colored roof
Jamaican Sunrise
Jamaican Sunrise, Runaway Bay, Club Caribbean
Jamaican Sunset, Runaway Bay, Club Caribbean
Jamaican Sunset, Runaway Bay, Club Caribbean

Produce – Asian Pear

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Asian Pears are inexpensive and come wrapped in a lacy jacket. To me, they appear to be more like an odd apple than a pear. The taste, a mild pear flavor with the crispy, juicy texture of an apple, made for an enjoyable snack. The hardest part of eating the fruit was knowing for sure it was ripe. It never softened up like a Bartlett pear, nor put out a tantalizing scent. I finally searched for some information and found this little blurb: “Check the pear for a springy texture.” This advice proved to be reliable and the pear I chose to eat was indeed ripe. More information on Asian Pears can be found on: EHow – How to tell if an Asian Pear is ripe.

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My husband and I wondered if Asian Pears are the type used in fruit cocktail; the cubed pears in the canned fruit mix are usually very firm. Will I buy one again? Probably not. The flavor was not as nice as a perfectly ripe Bartlett, and the taste of an apple is also much better. I’ll stick to those two favorites and leave the Asian Pears in the grocer’s bin.

Preparedness & Pheathers – Self-Reliance and Feeding the Birds

Country Wisdom & Know-How
Country Wisdom & Know-How

Every household needs to have a book on how to live off the land, either by choice, or in an emergency situation. Country Wisdom & Know-How is just such a guidebook. There are many other fine publications that also give terrific tips, numerous how-to blogs, and other resources easily available through a search on any search engine.

Country Wisdom & Know-How is an oversized, no-frills guide on ANIMALS of all kinds through HEALTH AND WELL-BEING and the HOME. In between these headings are: Cooking, Crafts and Gardening, with dozens of sub-topics in each one.

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On page ten, under the topic of “Seasonal Feeding of Birds,” a tip is given on how to build up calcium in songbirds for better reproduction capability in the Spring. Starting right about now add some crushed eggshells to your birdseed to provide additional calcium. This little boost for your “pheathered” friends is very easy to do. Save your broken eggshells, wash in hot water, let dry, grind up in a food processor or shatter in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. Mix these small pieces of eggshell into your birdseed and feed regularly through the Springtime months.

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I love the songbirds that fill my yard with music throughout the year. Not only do they sing me a symphony, they also keep the bug situation in check. Going to a bit of trouble to provide them a little extra calcium is my pleasure. Happy Bird-watching!

People & Place – Mark Hirsch and “That Tree,” An Update

In January of 2014 I wrote a post on Mark Hirsch and “That Tree.” Imagine my delight and surprise yesterday when the subject of my post, Mark Hirsch, commented on the post. He gave me a few updates about his project.

“I am tickled that your sister shared my project with you. Thank you for sharing it on your blog. My book That Tree was published in October of 2013 and can be found at independent book sellers throughout the midwest. It is also available through my website at “THAT TREE” Shop.
I am still finding time to document and experience life in and around my magical bur oak tree. You can see and follow my ongoing posts at That Tree on Facebook.

Here is the original post and video:

My sister recently sent me a terrific link. I had mentioned to her that I was photographing a pathway into a nearby woods once a week. *** I thought it would be fun to post it in a blog page (The link to “The Path” can be found in the top left sidebar of this blog) I love the link she sent me in return of “That Tree,” the oak that Mark Hirsch photographed with a smart phone for 365 days in 2012.

*** I photographed my “pathway” for several weeks, and then due to a vacation and bad weather let the project end. This has re-inspired me, perhaps in April, when this terrible winter weather clears up a bit, I can once again find a path or special spot to photograph weekly. Why don’t you give it a try too?

Phlowers & Phun – Tweaking The Tulips

Andy Warhol Effect in LunaPic
Andy Warhol Effect in LunaPic

The focus of yesterday’s post was a stand-alone photograph of yellow tulips. The flowers are beautiful on their own, but today I’m in a “tweaking” mood. I’m going to go to LunaPic and tweak the photograph a bit.

Tweaking – to change (something) slightly in order to improve it : to make small adjustments to (something) ~ Merriam-Webster Dictionary

To start: Upload your photograph to LunaPic. I have found if the upload in the center of the page does not work, it’s best to go to the “File” drop down box, click on “Upload Multiple Images,” and get your photo loaded with that command.

Here are a few samples of LunaPics Free Effects. Remember to “SAVE” your tweaked photograph before you exit the site. Anything not saved will be lost.

Draw Drop Down Menu - Cut Out Shape Oval
Draw – Cut Out Shape Oval
Effect - Lego Style
Lego Effect
Kaleidoscope Effect
Kaleidoscope Effect
Needlepoint Effect
Needlepoint Effect
3D Effect
3D Effect
Animation - Fire Effect
Animation – Fire Effect
Animation - Zoom Effect
Animation – Zoom Effect
Animation - Groovy Color Effect
Animation – Groovy Color Effect

Yikes! The animated effects can make me a little dizzy. There are so many effects and combinations to have “phun” with on the LunaPic Site. I’ve only shown a few. Give LunaPic a try…Happy Tweaking!

Phlowers – Tulips

tulips

March is going to come in like a lion here in the Northeast…let’s hope it goes out like a lamb. No matter what the weather might be, I know beneath the ground my tulips, grape hyacinths, crocus and daffodils are awakening from their slumber and beginning their push towards the sun. Oh the joy of it. Blessings my friends on this Sabbath Day.

“For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” ~ Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Pholklore, Phact & Phiction – Weather Lore

 

lion by wildlifeart 89
Photo courtesy of Wildlifeart89 in WetCanvas Reference Library

The month of March will arrive tomorrow all around the world. Perhaps it is already March 1st in your corner of the world. There is a popular saying…

“If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.
If March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion.”

lamb by rhaynes
Photo courtesy of Rhaynes on Morgue File

“Weather lore is the body of informal folklore related to the prediction of the weather. It has been a human desire for millennia to make accurate weather predictions. Oral and written history is full of rhymes, anecdotes, and adages meant to guide the uncertain in determining whether the next day will bring fair or foul weather.” ~ Wikipedia

Listed below are a few weather related bits of wisdom and folly. Do you know which are which? You can find out more here: Weather Lore

When Clouds Look Like Black Smoke, a Wise Man Will Put On His Cloak.

Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.

No weather is ill, if the wind be still.

When halo rings the moon or sun, rain’s approaching on the run.

When windows won’t open, and the salt clogs the shaker, the weather will favour the umbrella maker!

A summer fog for fair, A winter fog for rain. A fact most everywhere, In valley or on plain.

When sounds travel far and wide, A stormy day will betide.

A coming storm your shooting corns presage, And aches will throb, your hollow tooth will rage.

 

Photo Challenge – Reward? A Cuppa’ Ocean or Bay Please

Reward

“What does reward mean to you?”

 
Reward to me means a day walking, beachcombing or sitting on a sandy/rocky beach beside the ocean waves. I’ve been blessed in my life to have my idea of a reward fulfilled. Here are some of those ways…a reminder of a day at the beach on a cold Friday afternoon.

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STRATHEMERE, NEW JERSEY

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CAPE MAY LIGHTHOUSE, CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY

abel with lighthouse

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA

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TREASURE BEACH, JAMAICA

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CHESAPEAKE BAY, ELK NECK MARYLAND

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BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND

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block island 203

Plants – Garden Updates

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My houseplants are showing signs of shedding their winter slump. It’s time to top them up with an inch or two of new potting soil or repot them into a bigger pot. I’ve been adding a little time release fertilizer as I make my rounds watering this week. I’m also trimming dead leaves and leggy branching.

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The only place available to store my fuschia over the winter was a basement window well. The fuschia ia alive, but the growth it has put out is spindly and weak. I am going to cut away these thin branches and keep a few to root in potting soil. In eight weeks time, if they develop a root system, they will be able to be planted into outdoor garden pots.

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The coleus sprouts are beginning to show colors. I’m going to separate them and plant into small pots within the next week.

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I did right in cutting my vining morning glories back. The vines have sent out double and triple the shoots. Hooray! I can just imagine the lush blue flowers opening up around my windows.

I’m still winter-sowing half-hardy annuals. In Mid-march I will begin sowing some of the vegetable seeds (tomatoes, eggplant, etc.) that need more warmth. As always, I wish you Happy Gardening!

PS: Did I remember to tell you that my hoop house blew right off its moorings in the terrible winter storms we’ve had? Oh well…nothing lost but a bit of plastic. We saved the pvc pipe and will use it for another project.

Problem-Solving – Repairing Resin Figurines with Bread Dough

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I love Willow Tree Figurines . I have quite a few and display them on a living room shelf.

Willow Tree is a line of figurine sculptures created by artist “Susan Lordi in January 200. The Willow Tree line specializes in rustic faceless people and angels intended to represent feelings or life events. The figurines are made from hand-painted resin which is cast from Lordi’s hand-carved wooden sculptures.” ~ Wikipedia

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Because of their delicate nature, Willow Tree Figurines will lose a hand if dropped or knocked down. Because of my nature, I lay the loose hand aside, promising myself to glue it back on soon, and often lose the hand. I could buy craft-store clay and fashion a hand, but why spend money when I have what I need at home?

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Aleene’s Glue and Bread Dough Technique is the perfect medium to sculpt and repair my broken Willow Tree figurines. This technique will also work on other resin pieces. Aleene’s directions recommend using white bread for the bread dough clay. For this project I used honey wheat bread since the Willow Tree is created from molds of hand-sculpted wood and is very textured in appearance.

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Break off the crusts from two pieces of bread.  Tear the bread into pieces and place in a zip top sandwich bag. Next add two tablespoons of Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue and mush all this up.

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At some point you will have to take the dough out of the bag and fnish kneading it. I recommend you take off rings at this point. Knead the dough until it is smooth and has pulled all bread dough residue from your hands. This is how I know it is ready to use.

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Sculpt/Form the dough into the shape you need. I glued it to the Willow Tree figurines at this point with an additional drop of glue.

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I also created an easy rose out of the bread dough. Add a few drops of acrylic paint to a small piece of dough and mash it in until the color is uniform.

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Form small pea shaped balls.

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Flatten the first pea, twirl into a cone shape.

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Continue flattening pea shapes, add these in layers until you form the rose. I usually clip off the bottom with scissors to help the finished rose lie flat.

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Let the repaired resin dry 24 – 48 hours. Paint with acrylic paints. Remember, you might not be able to find an exact color of fleshtone, add white or black to darken or lighten. Also, acrylic paint will be a shade or two darker when dry. I didn’t need to glaze in any way as the paint matched the matte appearance of the figurines.

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Here’s a great video on how to create roses out of bread dough.

Produce, Pots and Pans & Product – Plums, Cheesecake Cupcakes & Peas in a Pod

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The choices in the supermarket were slim this week for sampling a new fruit or vegetable. There were a few novelties such as dragonfruit, but at 7.99 each, I passed on this one. I chose instead yellow plums. I’ve eaten golden plums in the past, but these were a brilliant lemon yellow when I purchased them. I set them on my windowsill to wait for them to ripen. Little did I know they would sunbathe and “tan” to a beautiful coral color. The flavor was delicious, but since plums are rather an ordinary fruit I wanted to do something different with them. I decided to stew them down until just tender, caramelize them and sprinkle with coarse salt.

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I didn’t have a recipe to follow. I peeled the plums since they were imported (possible unknown pesticides) and sliced them. I added a bit of water to the saucepan and lightly simmered the fruit until they were barely soft. At this point I added brown sugar and cooked them until the water and sugar became syrupy. I turned the heat off and sprinkled with coarse salt and let everything cool.

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I decided to make my recipe for cheesecake cupcakes and place the cooled plums on top. The recipe calls for a vanilla wafer, but I used half an oreo, minus the cream, in the bottom of the cupcake liner. The recipe for cheesecake muffins follows:

CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

6 Oreos halved, cream removed
2 8 oz Cream Cheese (softened)
1/2 Cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
Fruit Preserves ( I used my carmalized plums)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in 12 regular sized muffin tins. Cover bottom with Oreo half. Combine cream cheese and sugar in bowl. Beat until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat again until blended and without lumps. Scoop into muffin tins. I use an ice cream scoop. Fill about 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes…a few minutes longer if they are too loose in the middle. Chill in the fridge. Top with preserves.

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I also top with chocolate chips when hot. These melt and create a chocolate disc on top.

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These are super easy, delicious, and low in sugar. I can’t say they are low in calories, but they are VERY good!

The adorable Peas in a Pod Salt and Pepper Shakers in the first photograph in post can be found at Amazon.com. I bought several of them at Christmas and everyone who received a set loved it.

Product & Pressed Flowers

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I found a new set of pearlescent watercolors this weekend. They are made by Yasutomo and available in craft stores and online. The set was less than ten dollars, and with the added benefit of a 40% off coupon, quite a bargain. I use Winsor & Newton watercolors, but am enchanted by the idea of adding a little touch of shimmer to a few of my more creative watercolor attempts.

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The first thing I did was number the paints and make a chart to see how the watercolors reacted on paper. They are very pearly and quite sheer. The permanent marker is easily seen through all the colors.

I also experimented with a scrap of torn painting. The pearlescent pink added shimmer to the petals, but still let the detail come through.

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Another plus is the watercolors perk up the faded colors of old pressed flowers. These johnny-jump-ups were very drab, but the pearlescent paint added a bit of gleam and color. I can’t wait to experiment with this effect and will probably create a few greeting cards to have on hand.

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If you like to paint give these lovely watercolors a try.

PostScript: I found these to be very hard in texture. Before using, add a bit of water to each pan. Allow the water to sit and loosen up the paint for a few minutes before you begin to paint.

Pots & Pans – Amish Piggies in a Blanket

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Once in a while I stumble upon a meal that is so yummy in appearance, I have to disengage my “Eating Healthy” rule and give into the joy of bacon or other unhealthy food. This week the food that enticed me was “Piggies in a Blanket,” purchased at the local Amish Market.

The sweet Amish lady at the counter told me to bake the piggies at 375 degrees for one hour. I did so, and my husband and I were really pleased with the taste. Even better, they were very inexpensive. I bought the piggies in a blanket premade, but they would be easy to put together. The inner layer is loose sausage shaped into a half sausage shape. The next layer is stuffing, packed tightly around the sausage and held in place with tightly wrapped bacon. I baked the piggies uncovered for an hour. They bacon got a little dark, and dried out a tad, so next time I will cover the pan for about a half hour, and uncover for the final half hour. The bacon keeps the inside moist. Delicious!

People – Happy Birthday Mr. Washington

“Oh, eternal and everlasting God, direct my thoughts, words and work. Wash away my sins in the immaculate blood of the Lamb and purge my heart by Thy Holy Spirit. Daily, frame me more and more in the likeness of Thy son, Jesus Christ, that living in Thy fear, and dying in Thy favor, I may in thy appointed time obtain the resurrection of the justified unto eternal life. Bless, O Lord, the whole race of mankind and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy son, Jesus Christ.” ~ George Washington, Prayer

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“Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.” ~ Proverbs 11:14

“It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” ~ George Washington