Floral Blooms

I have seen a few folks sharing their Christmas Cactus, and I wanted you to see this beauty. Honestly, I take no credit for its blooms, it does as it pleases. I water it sometimes. It was a gift from Vicky last Christmas, 2009.
It is still in the paper it came in last year, lol! I know, I have no shame. *vbg*

I guess at this time, I should remind you that I live in Southern California. I know that does make a difference.

Here is the little progress I've made on the crumble squares. I was going for a wonky setting, but I bet there is an easier way. I was kinda thinking along the lines of this one, but Amanda Jean did the smart thing of beginning with the same size square, mine are all different sizes, and some are rectangles. Ah, well, gives me more to think about, and keep my mind active. Busy hands keep you distracted sometimes....

My design wall is the bed, if you haven't noticed.





I've struggled as to whether to share this, so forgive me. I've been feeling like such a "Wednesday's Child" of late. I'm referring to the nursery rhyme,

Monday's Child:

Monday's child is fair of face,

Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work for a living,
But the child that's born on the Sabbath day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

I've not posted this, it has been so hard to deal with, but I lost my Dad. He fell on Christmas Day, and died about 12 hours later of subdural hematoma on Sunday, December 26. He lived in Virginia, I'm in California, and there is so much more than the 3,000 miles between here and there.

I've been so sad, I have barely been able to speak of it. Thank you to those who know, and are praying for us, truly. I'm gettin' better. I'm back to school, and slowly I'm dealing with the loss. Sometimes better than others. I do believe in a Father God Who has a plan, I know He loves me enough to give peace, that passes all understanding.

I think it's been a rough year. I think some of the difficulty is that I've just had my Larry in the hospital and with all swirling around that sorrow and medical bill stress, I just haven't been on a better level to deal with all the loss. I'm seeking the Lord. He has sent such love through others, it's been humbling, comforting, and - emotional.

My little brother has taken on most all of the responsibility and it has been a real gift to talk things over with him. We were left a few items of the household, and when Hap (my brother) asked what I wanted, I told him to look for the useful things.

The sewing basket I grew up with. The mixing bowl we would use for making dressing at holiday time. A few quilts, and quilt tops never finished, made by previous generations of our family. I will quilt them. The rockers. The wall clocks. Momma was a painter, so a few of her paintings. She took oil painting lessons from one of the top rated artists in Japan, when we lived there while Daddy was gone to Vietnam 1/2 of the 4 years we lived there. They are lovely reminders of the artistic dna that flows in our family.

Hap is on his way to my house tonight, driving the family memories here, from our rural Appalachia home, before he heads on to his house in Washington. I am biding my time, typing this, waiting to hug him, and be thankful for another reminder of God's love.

I have to admit, I'm looking for a better year in 2011.


Thanks for looking in. Lord willing, we will get back to the creativity.
Blessings, Pokey

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Romans 12:15