Grab a quick cup of coffee ....

Grabbing a cup of coffee, that is about how long the month of August is going to last. School has started, gardens are ending, summer vacations are over and soon we'll be into Fall.

I love Fall. I love the Fall colors. Spring is my favorite month because everything begins anew, but Fall is next because everything is winding down and we're getting into the slower resting months. I love the changing seasons.

Each new month holds new adventures. Enjoy today, the last day of August 2007. Hopefully, it will hold pleasant memories for you.

Have a great day!

Young People Now A Days
By Connie Lavy

With a twinkle in her eyes Emily excitedly pulled out of the drive and started on her journey. “I’ve never been late for lunch and I won’t start today!” she said as she drove to see her adult children in a neighboring town. This is our annual family gathering to remember papa. I know that I can make it,” Emily said as she pushed the accelerator to the floor.

Reaching over to pick up a falling paper and swerving. She looks up and squeals, “What in the world is that man doing? I have never seen a man jump purposefully in a mud puddle before. What some people won’t do for a little attention. I just don’t know about young people now a days. He’s crazy!”

Emily is thinking, “It must be foggy outside. It’s just a little blurry, maybe I’ll just clean my glasses.” Reaching up she pulls off her glasses, pulls the hankie out of her blouse top, and rubs off the lens’. “Trying to steer and clean my glasses isn’t as easy as it was 50 years ago,” she thought. “Why is that car running off the side of the road? I just don’t know about these young drivers now a days!”

Smiling Emily reminisces about former days. “ Papa was a big man. Kindly loved by everyone including his two children, John and Sarah. We had so much fun swimming, camping, and sledding. I miss papa.” She said to herself.

Picking off a mailbox after coming up out of the ditch, Emily says loudly, “Why in the world would anyone put a mail box right on the road? You’d think they would be more considerate that that! Someone’s going to have fun picking up all his letters in that mud. Just serves them right. These young folks now a days!”

Today reminds me of the day Papa forgot his umbrella and boots. He was walking home from the neighbors when it started a downpour. No place to get in to keep dry. He got home and went to the outbuilding and took off his outer clothes to keep my floors from getting wet. He runs in the front door with nothing but his long underwear on and meets the new minister and his wife as they are leaving. Everyone was shocked! Papa’s face was so red!

“Well, why in the world, would a car just sit there and not move. Guess I’d just better go around them. Hey why are you honking at me, you nit wit, you almost hit me in the side. Boy, these young people now a days, they just don’t know how to drive.”

“I remember when papa decided to surprise the children and take them on a holiday trip.” thought Emily. “We hid our luggage under some blankets in the back of the wagon. Picked the kids up playing down the road and started off. They fell asleep on some straw and a cover in the back of the wagon. When they woke up it was almost night.” Both said in unison, “Where are we?” Smiling, Emily thought, “Such fun, the good old days.”

“Wonder what all those people are looking at? I don’t see anything; oh wait a minute that looks like laundry on the back of my car. Sure is a funny way for people to dry their clothes. I sure don’t know what to think of young people now a days.

“Say, look at the pretty lights!” Emily says as she pulls to a stop. She rolls down her window and says, “Hello young man do you need help?”

“Lady, I need to see your drivers license”, frowned the officer. “Yes sir,” replied Emily pushing her cockeyed glasses higher on her nose and reaching over for her purse. Pulling out her knitting needles, scissors, magnifying glass, safety pins, milk of magnesia, vitamins and an apple, she finally finds her license.

“Lady is this some kind of joke?’ the officer scowls, “this is a hand made license.” Looking sheepishly with her glasses cocked on her face again she grins,”Yes, sir, I failed my eye exam 20 yrs. Ago and I had to make my own license because they would not give me one. I just couldn’t break the law. You know I am 95 years old. I should not even have to have a drivers liscense with the driving experience that I have.”

Sitting in the seat of the cruiser, Emily’s thinking, “How considerate of this young officer to take me to town. Young people sure are nice these days.”




Connie Lavy (c) 2006

Come on in and have a cup of coffee!


Today, I want to show you an oil painting that I did several years ago.I think I am going to paint another picture to go with it this fall. I have a commissioned picture to do first. But, I thought I would share this one with you.

Most of my recent commissioned work is whimsical prints done in acrylics. For myself, I have been working in water color pencils. I love water color pencils because you can draw anywhere and then finish your work when you get home or in your studio. Drawing and colored pencil work is very nice also.

A Time of Reflection

A time of reflection
Thinking of the past.
Memories renewed.
Events went so fast.

A time of reflection
Lessons learned
Heartaches forgotten
Happiness returned.

A time of reflection
We must go on.
New events will come
We’ll reflect upon.


Connie Lavy (c) 2006

Just a thought ...

A lot of things we think are impossible. With God all things are possible. He gives us the strength to go on and bear or accomplish things. We just need the faith to trust Him and the courage to go on.

Have a Blessed Lords Day!

School Days

It's hard to believe that it is that time of year again. School is starting and Fall is just around the corner. Seasons come and seasons go. I look forward to each one and what that season brings.

I would like to see the beginning of school pushed back until after labor day to give the children a longer vacation. They have so much on them already when in school. But, these are different times than when I was a girl.

Let's get a cup of coffee ...& get out the scrapbooking materials. I have been scrapbooking several years. I was doing it before it had a name. I was just making albums with pictures and poems & sayings etc.

Of course, my earlier albums have been taken apart as well as most of my recent albums. I was concerned with the acid free plastic, so my winter project is to redo many of my albums. I want to make sure that as many acid free materials are used as possible and I wanted to get away from the old fold back plastic & sticky surfaces that just were not holding up.

I'm checking out my supply of papers & embellishments. I want to make sure that I have everything in order and ready to begin my projects. I store what I want to do in the slipcovers in my albums, but there are many pictures in mini albums and still in the envelopes that I got them in. Yet lots more on cd. I'm trying to get an organizational system going. With years compiled it is not an easy task.

I'm trying to scrapbook my special events as they come and go. I can catch up on the older pictures and events over time. One thing about scrapbooking, the pictures and memories are there, you just need to record it.

Maybe there will be lots of snow this Winter and I can be here in my cozy home by the fireplace scrapbooking. Well, I don't know if I'm quite ready for that because I like my seasons. Fall and Spring are my favorite. So, I'll take it as it comes. Snow will be here soon enough!

Water Color Pencils

This is a water color basket picture that I did last year. I love to work with water colored pencils. I started working with them in 2006 when I found out how easy it is to take them with you. I take them with me when I travel. I can draw and then when I get back home I can finish my project. Sometimes I do finish my picture if there is space and water available.

Water color pencils can be used in card making & scrapbooking as well as making pictures. I highly recommend giving them a try if you like to draw.

I need to get some better lighting because the background is white. But, I love this basket. I hope you enjoy the picture.

These are not just suggestions ...



Exodus 20:1-17

God gave us the Ten Commandments to follow to live happy Godly lives. By obeying His laws we can live guilt free happy lives. God loves us and knows what is best for us.

Have a good day!

Story Telling with Digital Scrapbooking


Digital scrapbooking is one way to scrapbook using a program that has scrapbooking designs or using a program such as photoshop or elements. It is done on your computer. The picture that I have here was done in 2002 for a Christmas Project and this is the first page. It is using a scrapbooking program.

Use your scrapbooking to tell a story. Years from now when someone looks at your pictures, they may not recognize the people or the event. So, find a way to incorporate your story into the scrapbooking project. Use titles, name holders and even write or type a little description of the event.

Happy Scrapbooking!

It's time for another cup of coffee!
It has really been a busy time of year. Today I had to spray the garden with seven. The bugs are getting into everything really bad.
We have had garden produce to eat. So far we have had, tomatoes, spinach and squash. The green beans and corn have been from other family gardens and they have shared with us. Ours should be on soon.

It's hard to believe that school is already starting. When I was young school did not start until after labor day and was over by the end of May. Things do change.

Friday will be the start of the Great Darke County Fair. One of the best in Ohio. Some say the best.

www.darkecountyfair.com

It's that time of year ...

Now is the time to start fall planting. Hostas are good plants for the shade. Other plants for fall planting are day lilies, hydrangeas, dianthus, scabiosa, coreopsis, peonies & tulip and daffodil bulbs. Don't forget, that this also is a good time to plant trees.

Check out your local garden centers for more plants for fall planting.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good." Psalm 136:1

Gardening

My favorite flowers are roses. The picture to the right is of my Knockout rose. My garden isn't the best this year because of the drought. The watering got be be too much, so I just cut back. Plants have died that could have lived under different circumstances. The hardiest have made it. We'll try again next year.

It is getting close to time to start preparing for next years garden. The clean up & removal of the bad areas of our gardens. It's time for planning for next year with our fall plantings. Check back in future weeks for some of the fall plants and gardening tips that we can do for next year.

Today, I am reminded of just how awsome God is! I want to share these words with you. At the bottom of the page is a website that you can go to to hear the song.


Awesome God
Rich Mullins

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain't just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)
There's thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)
And the Lord wasn't joking
When He kicked 'em out of Eden
It wasn't for no reason
That He shed His blood
His return is very close
And so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)
He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)
Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not
Too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God (Our God is an awesome God)
He reigns from heaven above (He reigns from heaven above)
With wisdom, power, and love (With wisdom, power, and love)
Our God is an awesome God

Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God

Check out:
http://www.geocities.com/nana5576/ourgodisanawesomegod.html

(Directions: with mouse highlight web address, right click copy, right click paste into web browser.)

The Gateway To The West


This is one beautiful sight when entering Missouri. I love to look over at the Arch.
Take a tour up into the Arch. A tram car takes you to the top of the Arch. It is really neat to look over the city from the observation area at the top of the Arch. The view is magnificient! It is next to the Mississipi River which has story of it's own.

Directly under the Arch is the Museum of Westward Expansion. It has a movie theater that shows a 45 minute documentary depicting the arch under construction. The museum has artifacts from the Lewis and clark era, rare Indian medals, and Indian headress, tepee and a covered wagon. National Geograpic has a Lewis and Clark, Great Journey West production in the Odyssey Theater.

This is a part of history and beauty well worth checking out!

Quilters Site

Check out this sewing shop. The “Happy Sewing Room” sells online. This is a nice site for quilt patterns and fabrics. It even has a customer quilt gallery that shows some of the customer’s quilts. They have some great quilt ideas. They have a monthly quilt club for those in the area.

Some of the things that can be purchased are: fabrics, books, patterns, notions, magazines and sewing accessories. They can be ordered from the convenience of your own home.

Happy Sewing Room
335 State Street
Hamburg, PA 19526(610) 562-7173

http://www.happysewingroom.com/

Check this out!

Coming Soon...

The World's Longest Yard Sale
August 2-6, 2007
Thursday - Sunday

This is also knowas the Hwy 127 Corridor Sale

This sale goes 630 miles and covers five states. This is one of the biggest and best events in the world. Homeowners in these states sell things that they have accumulated. Professional dealers and vendors also get into the sale.

This is one fun sale. It is impossible to cover the whole sale, but you can get a big start … and finish it in the years to come. Just start in the state nearest you. The states covered are: Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.

Make sure that you wear comfortable walking shoes, carry your camera to get pictures of the awesome shops & displays (ask first), & cute places you might want to remember.

Check it out at: http://www.127sale.com/
The official headquarters is in Jamestown, Tennessee at the Feutress County Chamber of Commerce.

If you can’t make it this year mark your calendar.
Next Year’s Sales: August 7-10, 2008

"A heart at peace gives life to the body."

Proverbs 14:30

Variety is the Spice of Life

People are creatures of habit and largely base choices on that which is familiar. Although some habits are good, cooking the same types of food over and over zaps creativity and breeds indifference in the kitchen. Food is not only necessary for survival, it is also a main source of enjoyment. Making the most of our meals increases pleasure and happiness. If your dinner hour is hum-drum bring something less predictable home from the market. One thing certain to add variety to your meals is broadening your selection of mushrooms. Mushrooms add flavor, texture and nutrition to appetizers, soups, salads and entrées. The possibilities are endless, and the results are fabulous.

Mushrooms are high in fiber and protein, and provide vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), biotin (B7), cobalamins (B12) and ascorbic acid (C), as well as minerals, including iron, selenium, potassium and phosphorus. Maitake, shiitake, and reishi are being researched for the possibility of use for anti-cancer, anti-viral, and/or immunity-enhancement properties.

If you are new to the world of mushrooms, you should know that mushrooms are best when used within a few days of purchase. Like other vegetables, it is best to wait until you are ready to use them before rinsing your mushrooms. Remove mushrooms plastic from their container and store in a paper bag, because if they are stored in an air-tight container the moisture trapped inside will cause early spoiling. It is not recommended to freeze fresh mushrooms, but if they are first sautéed, cooled and stored in an airtight container they may be frozen for up to a month. Care should be taken to cleaning your mushrooms, especially morels.

Shiitake, portabella and morels are great mushrooms to experiment with because they are becoming increasingly more available in local markets. Shiitakes are often dried and sold in packages. These must be re-hydrated by soaking in water about 15 minutes before using. The button of the Shiitake mushroom has a smooth and spongy texture. They are a great addition to any dish. Portabella mushrooms are sold both with the stem or just as caps. They are light tan, rounded, with black, visible gills on the underside. As they age and darken the flavor is richer. They are especially great sautéed in butter and wine, or you can grill or roast them. Portabellas not only enhance the beauty of your dinner, but also add a hearty flavor. Morels have short, thick stems with pointed caps and have a lot of texture. Morels may be tan, yellow or black in color and have a nutty flavor. The darker this mushroom, the more intense the flavor. As you gain experience using these mushrooms, you can venture out or order different varieties rather than hunt for them yourself.

Cooking mushrooms is easy and there are several ways to prepare them. Mushrooms taste great when seasoned! Use salt, pepper, garlic, or any other spice or herb that complements your meal. Sautéing is probably the most common cooking method. Place 8 ounces of mushrooms in a frying pan with a tablespoon or two of butter. Cook on medium high heat for a few minutes until soft. Don’t put too many mushrooms in a pan because the heat won’t be high enough to brown them. Equally tasty is grilling, roasting, or broiling mushrooms. Coating the mushrooms lightly with olive oil will keep them from drying out. When roasting mushrooms heat in a 450 F oven for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. To grill or broil, place your pan about 4 to 6 inches from the heat source and cook about 5 minutes. Oil may be added when turning them to ensure even cooking.

It does not take a lot of effort to make your meal more exciting, and adding variety with mushrooms will spice it up. Changing an everyday item for one that is extraordinary will please every pallet and make you look like a gourmet chef!

This is an article by Emma Snow .
I thought it would be a great help for those who are looking for variety in their meals. Enjoy!