Kind Words and Dear Friends

I received an email this morning from a dear friend that visited my blog a couple of years ago. I will not mention her name as I know that she is a very private person. I had decided that I wanted my blog to take a different direction from ranting and griping to glorifying the Lord. God lead me to write a post about the song "It Is Well With My Soul" (I can't find the post but I added the music). On that day the Lord led this beautiful person to my blog. Nothing is ever coincidence and those words that the Lord led me to write were what she needed to read at that moment. This lady has just touched my heart so much and I am humbled by her words. Here is part of what she had to say:

"Your posts have so moved me on several layers. You always inspire me, and if you inspire me you have to be inspiring hundreds of others. This is a big Thank You for being who you are, sharing your life with us, and the love and faith you have in our Lord."

It is because of the Lord, and all of you, that my journey through this life is easier. You all inspire me and you touch my heart. I read every comment that is left and am blessed by each one. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for blessing my life!

The Closet is Done!

I finally got the closet all organized tonight. It looked like a huge job but after I got started it wasn't bad at all. I needed some cubbies but couldn't spend the money right now so I improvised with cardboard boxes. I taped them all together so they wouldn't be sliding around. I think it worked really well. I have a few more things to go back in - sheets and pillowcases on the shelf and the box of computer things - and then it's complete. I just wanted to show the area I set up for my sewing and craft things. The other end is plastic bins with pictures, office supplies, and other miscellaneous stuff. Now I'm ready to start cutting fabric tomorrow and start sewing.

I found some things that I had forgotten about, like 2 wonderful old flour sacks that are going to make the best pillows! You can see them in the top right cubbie. They are soft and faded - just the best!

Here's the Fall fabric I got today. I love the scenes with the barns, pumpkins, and baskets of fruit. It is much prettier in person and has gold metallic accents around all the pumpkins. I think this will make the cutest purses!

It was a beautiful day here today and supposed to be more of the same for tomorrow. Then starting on Monday it will be rainy and in the 60's - the Fall weather is finally getting here. Now it's time to get the porch decorated.

I am off to get the closet finished before I go to bed. Have a wonderful Lord's day tomorrow!!

Hugs,
Kay

A Good Day

Let me start out by saying that the closet still isn't organized! I've been trying - not too hard - to get that done but the kids keep me busy running or I find some other excuse to put it off. However, I have to get it done tomorrow. About 6 years ago I started making purses and tote bags and selling them on eBay and at craft shows. For about 3 years I did very well on eBay until the market got saturated and the prices came down so much I wasn't even making my labor costs back. So I decided to turn to soapmaking and put the sewing machine away. I had actually gotten burned out on purses and was ready for something new.

Today I got a call from a former customer who wanted to know if I still made purses. I explained that I hadn't sewn any for 3 years. She said that she wanted one and had two gals at her office that wanted to buy too. She told me what she wanted, I told her the price and she paid - I sold 3 purses in a matter of 5 minutes! Now I'm excited to do them and have all kinds of ideas running through my head again. But the closet has to get cleaned out so I can see what supplies I have and what I need to get. Oh darn - an excuse to go to Joanns! LOL!

My purse business has been brought back to life and I'm glad. I needed something to get me out of the funk that I've been in. I've been praying for the Lord's help in this area and He gave me something to do. I will not be selling them on eBay though. I will have them in my Etsy shop and on my website along with soap and other goodies.


I got the cutest John Deere fabric for one of the purses that was ordered (see above) and, of course, had to buy another piece that is pink paisley with the John Deere logo. I love pink! That one I'm going to "girlie up" with rhinestones and ruffles.


But the day gets better! I was able to eat pizza tonight for the first time in a couple of months. I only had one piece because I didn't want to push it but it tasted to good!!! The kids were so excited that we were going to have a Friday pizza night. That used to be our usual Friday night thing. After dinner Steph got invited to spend the weekend with a friend, Justin got invited to spend the weekend with a friend, and the house is quiet. I have two days to myself - no running kids around, no kids coming over - it's going to be great!

I had a phone interview on Thursday with Memorial Hospital in Springfield, IL. They are forwarding my application to the department manager for review and I will know in a week if they want me for an in-person interview. While this is very exciting news, it's also a little daunting. I would have to fly back there for the interview. The cost of a plane ticket is not in my budget so I have been praying about it since Thursday. I believe that the Lord is going to help provide a way through my business here at home! I don't ever expect Him to just hand me money but it sure is nice when He shows you a way to work so He can provide that way. Of course, my family in IL is very excited about the possibility of Steph and I moving back there. We are excited about it too. We just have to get over this one hurdle. God will open the doors if this plan is truly His will for us - I know that with all my heart.

My weekend is going to be good and I hope that yours is too!!

Sunny Second Day of Fall

Who would have thought we'd have 95 degrees in Western WA on the First Day of Fall? Not me - but we did and it was hot! Today is another sunny day but supposed to be much cooler.

I'll be hibernating upstairs today as my grandson, Justin, has the stomach flu. He's downstairs so we're trying not to go into the germy area. Hopefully Steph and I don't get it! So since I'm going to be in my room I'm going to organize my closet. I have a pretty good sized closet that has to double as clothes and craft storage. I'd take before pictures but it is way to embarrassing!! I hate clutter in my house so I tend to be one of those people that gets rid of the clutter by shoving it in a closet. As long as I don't see it then it doesn't exist, right? At least until I open the closet door!

I truly am going to try and get better about posting pictures on my blog. I just have to get in the habit of carrying my camera around with me. Several times I've seen things I thought would make great blog pictures only to realize that my camera is upstairs and I'm downstairs. So we'll start with the closet re-do if I get that done today.

Hope you're enjoying a wonderful second day of Fall!

Hugs,
Kay

I Miss This!

I miss junking, fixing up, and going to shows. It wasn't so much about making a lot of money - that was always nice - but about the creative process and the thrill of the hunt for the next treasure. We had a whole group of gals that we would do shows with. Then everyone drifted their own way. I miss it.
I've decided that I'm going to do this again - for myself. It will give me a creative outlet and I'll get out to meet new friends in the process!


I have the whole winter to create and get ready for Spring shows. I will share treasures as I get them done. This is going to be such fun!!

It's Hot Again!

This morning Steph and I left the house at 7:15 for her early morning counseling appointment. It was so cold! I turned the heater on in the car. This afternoon we're getting east winds and it's 90 degrees! It's supposed to be this way for the next 3 days. I'm hoping this is summer's last blast of heat. It's been a very hot summer here and we've had record heat several times. I want Fall!

I'm dying to start decorating for Fall but am going to hold back until at least October 1st. My front porch needs a good cleaning from the summer grime and cobwebs. That will be the first order of business. Then on to the pretty Fall colors and pumpkins.

Later in the week I'm hoping to get started on a baby quilt for a dear friend's grandbaby that is due to arrive in December. I'm trying to decide between a rag quilt or a regular quilt. Since I've not done a regular one before this might be the time to try since it will be a small project. I will post pictures of the progress. It will also be my first adventure in machine quilting but the pattern calls for straight line quilting through each square so that should be fairly simple. It will give me practice with handling the quilt in the sewing machine, etc.

Hope you're all having a great day!

Hugs,
Kay

Wordless Wednesday

New Facebook Fan Page

I just finished a fan page for The Rustic Cottage on Facebook. If you're a Facebook member please become a fan! You'll get a sneak peak of new items before they are listed in my Etsy shop or on my webpage. You'll also find out about "Facebook Fans Only" sales and discounts! All you have to do is click on the box in the right side bar - it's that easy!

If you're not a Facebook member it's easy to sign up and lots of fun!!!

All Is Well

I went to the doctor yesterday for my post-op visit and everything is great! I'm feeling so good that I can hardly believe it. The doctor said that I had a really nasty looking gall bladder and he's surprised that I wasn't more sick than I was. Life is good because I'm now able to sleep in my normal position - yeah!!

We've had really hot weather here the past couple of days but it's supposed to be in the mid-70's tomorrow. This has been the hottest summer that I can remember since I've lived in the PNW which is 25 years. I'm tired of it, want the AC out of the windows, and cool Fall air! That will come very soon I'm sure.

I'm anxious to get the front porch cleaned and get some Fall decorating done. I think that I'll buy fake pumpkins this year so I can avoid the Great Pumpkin Disaster from last year.

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Love and hugs,
Kay

Remember 9/11

Prayer's for Kim's Mom - Donna

I got an email from my friend Kim tonight asking for prayer for her mom, Donna. Donna is a mighty woman of God and has a full-time ministry. This beautiful lady lives to do the Lord's work and is constantly planting seeds of salvation everywhere she goes. Here's what Donna sent to Kim:

I've lost all nerve connection between my feet and my brain...and it has affected my walking and balance even when I'm standing this is what happens to diabetics, which I am not, but has been gradually increasing over the past few years. Now suddenly
its hit full force. I have no feeling in my feet, yet I have painful
electrical pains in them..which radiate up into my lower leg.
lots of deep leg muscle pain etc.

Also been having severe attacks of vertigo which often
goes with this. I was looking at the floor the other day
and it was moving...like I was on a carosel sitting still
but moving through space. The muscles in the feet
and the nerves, and the eye muscles all have to
work together to have balance.

It's been unerving to say the least, but I'm going to
have to learn to live with it.Nothing you can do to
restore dead neverves.

There are small muscles in between the toes that
respond to the nerves which then travel up the
spine into the brain. When this stops, you have
to learn to compesate for your balance all the time.

So, I've joined the neuropathy club...along with
a lot of seniors (altho I think I'm considered
way beyond senior) and like them I will have
to learn to compensate.

Please pray for Donna's healing.

Hugs and love,
Kay

Almost Normal

Well, I'm getting back to normal. I've felt pretty good this week and have had to take fewer rest breaks (i.e. naps). In fact, I'm ready to start Fall cleaning. It's all I can do not to tear into something but I know I need to be careful for a bit longer.

I have let this house go the whole time I was going to school. After that I was having so much trouble with my gall bladder that I just felt bad most of the time. Then there was the surgery which has been such a blessing. I'm really feeling good - didn't realize how bad I felt until I started feeling so good now!

Tonight I went into the "boys" bathroom to get some shampoo out of their shower. Steph and I share a bath, Steve has his, and Justin uses it to shower in and then finishes up his stuff in the downstairs bathroom. I pulled back the shower curtain and almost fainted! The boys have not been cleaning their bathroom. It's been an understanding that since I have 2 1/2 bathrooms to take care of that they would clean theirs and Steph and I take care of ours. Justin does the one downstairs.

It is beyond all comprehension how anyone could get into a shower that dirty. Men must not care if they shower in filth - at least the men in this house. If it hadn't been so ugly I would have taken before and after pictures. Needless to say, when I got done with my bath I went into theirs to clean. I took down the shower curtain liner and threw it away. Pulled the shower curtain down, pulled up the rugs and threw those in the washer. Then I started on the shower walls and tub with Comet. I filled the tub with hot water, added bleach, and let it sit. After that was done I put on gloves and tackled the toilet including using a pumice stone on the hard water stains. Tomorrow I will do the floor and the sink - figured I better not push my luck by doing any more cleaning tonight.

But that shower is so clean now that it just sparkles. Hopefully the rest of my house will look like that before long!

First Day of School