They are Back!

Mr. & Mrs. Duck are back. Each year they come and make a nest by our pond. It is fun to watch them as they glide across the pond. They seem to not have care in the world. But I noticed a owl in the tree so they will have to be on the alert when their babies hatch.There is so much evil in the world - even our ducks have to be on guard. I must remember they are also Gods creatures and He watches over them as well. Have a good Wednesday.

Thoughts for Tuesday

As Jesus stepped into the garden, you were in His prayers. As Jesus looked into heaven, you were in His vision....His final prayer was about you. His final pain was for you. His final passion was you.

Max Lucado

My list of thankfulness

I am so very thankful for
.......a meaningful Palm Sunday worship service with the Sunday School children singing praises and waving palm branches.
.......having a brunch with our kids. (we're running out of room)
.......the promise of warmer weather
.......the signs of Spring

Sunday Scripture

How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day your thoughts turn towards me.
Psalm 139:17 TLB

Thought for Thursday

A kind word is never lost.
It keeps going on, from one person to another,
until it comes back to you again.

Troubles with Comments

Does anyone have the problem I have?
I go to my blog and check how many people left a comment. Then I click on comment and my comments come up but only for a second and then I have a blank screen which says "No Comments". Yesterday I had 10 comments listed and I saw then just for a second and everything was blank. I know for sure some of you have left comments but when I check they are gone. I don't know what to do to correct this - can anyone in blog-land help me? Please e-mail me at connievugt@altelco.net Thank you.
In the meantime, I want to share my ducks with you. I bought them at Goodwill. I think they are so neat setting on my shelf.

My table runner

Myself and a group of ladies of our church are learning to quilt. This runner is called Disappearing 9 Patch Table Runner.
We meet every other week on Tuesday morning and we are learning so much. I'm really enjoying this time together.

How does he do it?

We have this squirrel who is determined to eat the bird seed from our bird feeder. He used to jump from the nearest tree branch. Then my husband cut all the branches off. He would climb this little tree and look around for the branches. He would study the distant between the feeder and the little tree. We figured we had it lick. However - today I happened to look out of the kitchen window and what did I see? Our little squirrel sitting inside the bird feeder just eating away. How did he get in there? I don't know. He is a clever little guy, that is for sure. I didn't have the heart to chase him out. He must have worked so far to get in there!

Monday Blessings

I'm thankful for...............

1) that God is in control,
2) the snow is gone again,
3) warmer weather on the way,
4) my health,
5) lunch out with my daughter.

Sunday Scripture

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn yu with loving kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3

Blessings to you today.

I've been doing some Spring decorating. Hope you enjoy it. Have a nice weekend.

A thought for Thursday

If we try to stand alone,
We are weak and we will fall,
For God is always greatest
when we're helpless, lost, and small.

Today ask God to stand with you. With God at your side you can face all challenges.

Enjoy your day!

Baking Tip

Let your piecrust go undercover

The recipe says to cover the rim of your piecrust with little strips of aluminum foil to protect it during the last few minutes of baking. The trouble is that it takes 20 minutes to cut out the foil and arrange it lightly around the pie. Then it falls off when you close the oven door. Try this instead. Take one of those aluminum pie tins you've been saving and cut out the bottom. That leaves you with just the sides and rim, which you turn upside down and set on top of the pie to provide an instant cover for the edges of the crust.
After the pie is baked, clean off the rim and store with your pie tins so you can reuse it next time you bake a pie.

A recipe to enjoy

Here is a recipe for a delicious salad which was served at our church Valentine Dinner. I want to share with you.

Kiwi Strawberry Spinach Salad

12 cups spinach
4 kiwi, sliced
2 pints strawberries, sliced

Dressing:
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon worchestershire sauce
2 green onion, chopped
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Blend dressing ingredients in blender.

Top with toasted crushed pecans.

Enjoy!

Monday Blessings

I'm thankful for.....................
1) the snow is gone
2) the ducks are back
3) lots of food given away to those in need
4) my God who listens to my prayers
5) a good Bible study evening.

Today try to identify the heart-hurt hidden in the words that another is speaking.

His Gifts

I can't believe it is Friday. Time sure flies by doesn't it. I run across this poem the other day and thought I would share it with my blogging friends.

His Gifts
Lord, help me to use each day you give wisely,
in ways you would have me to live...
Forgetting self but remember more those who are lonely,
the suffering, the poor.
Let me lift them up in fervent prayer,
Reassuring them of your love and care.

Let me thank you for the beauty you bring
in summer, autumn, winter, and spring;
each one with special beauty you wrought
and on angels' wings to earth were brought.
No earthly artist could e'er compare
to all your gifts, so rich and rare.

Oh, may I not take for granted all these gifts
that bless my heart and my spirit lifts...
A love that nourishes my body and soul,
just knowing you're near and in control
brings me joy, peace and tranquility,
and grace to always trust in You.

Lou Ella Cullipher

I told you I would show you my germanium of last summer. This is how beautifully it did last year. So time will tell what it does this year. Hope it works!!

Is is still alive?

Here are my flowers that I kept over the winter in a cool basement. I get them up in front of a window the first of March. I begin to water them too. Hopefully it will produce new shoots and bloom by summer. It worked for me last year so I'll see what happens this year. Tomorrow I will show you what I hope they look like by summer.

Tuesday Tips

Doing some spring painting? Here are a few tips on how to clean up after your done.

1) To make paintbrush easier to clean, wrap masking tape around the metal part and about 1/2 inch over the bristles. Rather than drying on the bristles, paint will collect on the masking tape. To clean, remove this tape and clean the paint that remains on the brush.

2) When sealing the lid on a paint can, wipe a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the rim. This will allow the can to open easily the next time.

3) Before you store leftover paint, list the rooms you have painted with it on the can. Touch-ups are easier if you don't to try to figure out which can of paint you used for what.

4) For easy removal of paint splatters on window panes, use a round typewriter eraser with a brush on the end - it's safer than a razor blade and easy too.

Monday Blessings

Today I'm thankful for ---
being saved by grace,
my computer friends,
freedom to worship,
beautiful weather.

Enjoy the day!!

Sunday Scripture

Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Colossians 3: 12, 13

Have a Great Day.

the rest of the room

I promised you the rest of our all-purpose room. You can see it is rather crowded. But it works for me.

Have a great week-end.

My reading room

I'm reading a good mystery book written by Mary Higgins Clark entitled, You Belong to Me. If you are familiar with her books you know that she is an excellent mystery writter. I have read many of her books and have enjoyed them all. She keeps you guessing all through the story as to who is the bad guy.

This picture shows the spot where I like to read; away from the TV but, as you can see, it is also the exercise room, and my sewing spot and my desk where I make cards and do my craft projects, etc. Tomorrow I'll show you the rest of the room. We call this our "all-purpose room". It really is crowded. Oh well, I'm just glad I have an extra room to use.
Look! the sun is shining! Spring is just around the corner...........

Our quilt

Our oldest son and his wife and family made us this quilt for our 50th wedding anniversary. They didn't get it done in September but finished it a few weeks ago. Ed cut it, Martha sewed it, and the Brian & Emily, Melissa & Doug and Andy and Chelsey helped tie it . Isn't is beautiful? We love it.

Tuesdays Tips

Some hints on hanging pictures etc.

1) Keeping pictures hanging straight on the wall - Wrap masking tape, sticky side out, around the middle of a toothpick and place a few near the bottom, backside of the frame.

2) When you want to avoid nail holes in the walls, hang pictures with a sewing machine needle. They hold up to 30 pounds and leave almost no marks on the wall.

3) Staining unfinish wood picture frames - stain them with ordinary liquid shoe polish. Apply one coat and let dry. Follow with another coat, and then wax with a good paste wax. Brown shoe polish gives the wood a walnut glow and oxblood a mahogany or cherry color. Tan polish will look like a light maple. This hides scratches, too.