KNitting TIme........

I make a habit of setting aside some time each evening to take out my knitting and work quietly on it, happily relaxing I believe that it prepares me for sleep and washes away the cares of the day.

         ---Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit's End, Mediation's for Women Who Knit to Much

I agree with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's statement.
I knit in the evening and feel my mind let go, my body relax preparing me for sleep.
Now, that doesn't always work, that is sleep doesn't always come as easily as the words, but I certainly enjoy knitting and forgetting about the day.

The bags in the photo are Grab n' Go Bags that I sew to sell.  The bags are lined and the single handle threads through rings.  I keep each knitting projects in a bag.  The idea came when my husband would say let's go here, now, and I'd want to take my knitting but first I have to put it in my knitting bag.  So each project now has it's own Grab n' Go Bag.
I have a cape in one bag and sweater in another with socks in their own bag.

Do you knit before before bedtime?

It was cool on the porch this morning.......refreshing.......days are getting warmer so bring your favourite beverage and join me...........come again.  Mar

KNitting, Tea & Cookies

KNitting, Tea & Cookies or is it Tea & Cookies then KNitting.

Everybody tells me that they would love to knit but they don't have the time.
  I look at people's lives and I can see opportunity and time for knitting all over the place. 
 The time spent riding the bus each day?  That's a pair of socks over a month. 
Waiting in line?  Mittens.
Watching TV?  Buckets of wasted time that could be an exquisite lace shawl.

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Mediation's for Women Who Knit too Much

Stephanie was the guest speaker at knit east in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and had everyone in stitches with her wicked sense of humor.  If you are a knitter then her comments have a ring of truth.

Now it is time for Tea & Cookies then KNitting
Raspberry Butter Buds

1 cup butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
Mix together

2 eggs
Add and mix

1 tsp. Baking Powder
1tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
Add and mix completely until all flour is worked in

Form into balls.
Place on baking sheet
Press your thumb into center of cookie then fill with Raspberry Jam

Bake 325 degrees 10 - 12 minutes until golden.

I love these cookies..........not too sweet, small cookie great with afternoon tea.
Enjoy!!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you brought your KNitting........come again.  Mar

Christmas Ornaments for KNitters

Knitting is a boon for those of us who are easily bored.  I take my knitting every where to take the edge off of moments that would otherwise drive me stark raving mad.
                     -- Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Mediation's for Women Who KNit too Much

The photos are Christmas ornaments that I made from cardstock, beads, bits of yarn.

My husband always wants to talk to me when I'm counting stitches or rows.

Do you have a knitting Christmas ornament?

Thanks for stopping by.............come again.

Knitting......

I like making a piece of string into something I can wear.       
 --Author Unknown

 Bluebird Pattern - Drops Design

Used Regal yarn from Briggs and Little yarn 

The pattern is free from Drops Design, Garnstudio.  I love their patterns and I took a piece of string and created a beautiful sweater for my daughter.

What is your favourite pattern?

Thanks for stopping by hope to see you tomorrow with another Yarn story............come visit.  Mar

KNit..........

Knit by the fire in the autumn or the year.  Knit all winter long, woolen socks and mittens, hats and leggings.  Knit a magical scarf that tells magical stories, mystical yarns.  Knit ten thousand stitches and, at every stitch, recite a prayer.  Knit with wool, cotton, handspun yarns, curlicued and mohair-soft and fuzzy.  Knit, purl, knit, purl.  Knit a family together.

 Knit a community together, drawing each thread closer and linking with the others.  Knit a row, purl a row, knit a row, purl a row.  Knit for the baby not yet born a hooded shawl, tiny feet warmers, a blanket dyed with marigold's gold.  Knit with your great-aunt's needles, smooth wood or ivory, the mouths of whales, clicking softly, softly.  Knit and purl, and knit and purl, and knit and purl, and knit.

--Rachel Snyder, 365 Words Well Being for Women

The knitted item in the photo is a shawl created from mohair, different types of wool and tweed.  It is a free form knitting..........add the colours I want, use one kind of yarn as often as I want........really fun and different than following a pattern.

It's a technique I learnt at Knit East that happened in 2011 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.



Do you knit?

Share your knitting project.

 

See you tomorrow on the porch with another knitting topic............thanks for stopping by.  Mar

Women of Spirit - Bev

I have been thinking about your assignment and wondering how I would answer.

To put my spirit into words is hard.

Words like Freedom, love and light come to mind.

The colours of the rainbow would be colours I would use.

Bev  -Women of Spirit

Friendship and Cookies

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another
"What! You too?
I thought I was the only one."
--C S Lewis

Friends , tea and cookies.

So stop for awhile and try our family's favourite recipe

Monster Cookies

2 3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup margarine or butter

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix together

1 - 500 g jar of peanut butter (about 2 cups)

Mix until well blended

2 tsp. baking soda

5 cups oatmeal

Add and mix together

1 cup chocolate chips

Mix until evenly distributed

325 degree oven

Drop by heaping tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 - 12 minutes until cookies are golden brown

Do not over bake as cookies become hard.

These cookies were served at our daughter's wedding, at baptisms, birthday parties, family gatherings, holidays, given to friends, always a jar in our home, my son loves them.

Do you have a favourite family recipe that you'd share with us?

Thanks for stopping by to eat a cookie and share a bit of friendship...........hope you come again.  Mar

Appreciate..............

Appreciate your friends.  Appreciate the time she picked you up after your operation, even when it was snowing so hard.  Appreciate that she listened when you needed to talk.  Needed to be heard.  Needed to cry.  Appreciate whoever mowed your lawn the day of the funeral.  Appreciate whoever found your overdue video, returned it, and paid the fine.  When friends are in short supply, learn to appreciate being with yourself.  Appreciate having a job where you don't have to wear a dress.  Appreciate having a job where you do.  Appreciate that your body can take you where you want to go.  If it can't, appreciate that your mind can take you there instead.  Appreciate the good men in your life.  Tell them you appreciate them, and appreciate that they're learning to be well just like you.

      --Rachel Snyder, 365 Words Well Being Women

Please take time to leave a message.......just a word so that I know that my blog is appreciated by at least one person.

Thanks for stopping by.........bring your wine and sip on the porch.  See you tomorrow.  Mar

Rhythms of Nature

Paying attention to the Rhythms of Nature can help slow our mind, body and spirit down giving us a chance to connect to the Earth. 

Listen!  In the earth, the seeds are stirring and making noise, like the birds whose song has been silenced by winter.  Now the snow is being devoured by sun, our elder, and in the branches, the persistence of our prayers is bringing the birds to life.
---------------Nancy Wood, Shaman's Circle

 The sun is shining and the days have been warmer take a few minutes too...............

   ***Walk around your neighbourhood and look for new growth:  bud, bulbs, grass shoots.

   ***Plant herbs in a pot of dirt on a window sill.

   ***Check to see if the lilacs are budding.

   ***Investigate a mud puddle like a naturalist.

   ***Plant a tree.

   ***Climb a tree.

   ***Plant daffodils, tulips, paper-white narcissus, and Easter lilies.

   ***Buy new patio furniture.

   ***Rearrange your furniture.  Take up rugs, add plants, paint the ceiling the colour of robin's egg.

   ***Have a tea party outdoors.  Sip herbal tea and enjoy nature budding around you.

   ***Visit a new born baby.

----Jennifer Louden, The Woman's Comfort Book, a Self-Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your Life.

I purchased this book in 1992 after my children left for university and my life was changing.  I had been a stay-at-home mom (and proud to have had that choice) and now I had to learn to nurture myself and create a new balance in my self.

Hope you give some of the ideas of welcoming spring a try and enjoy nature.

Please let me know what you did to enjoy these spring days.

Thanks for stopping by and sitting on the porch for awhile............come again and stay in touch.  Mar

Friendship.....sharing time

a meal shared with friends is happiness tasted

and time well spent.

I haven't any idea where the quote came from as I found it written on a scrap of paper.

The table is set for four friends to join each other to celebrate their friendship and birthdays.

In the small papercraft purses above are pieces of handmade jewelry and the money from the sale goes to Helping Hands for Haiti.

Gather your girlfriends and  share a cup of tea or a meal.

Do you have a ritual for gathering with your girlfriends?

Thank you for stopping by and hope you take the time to share your friendship.........stop by again and in time we can become friends.       Mar

Seize the Day.......

Each day is a new life.

Seize it.

Live it.

--David Guy Powers

Monday has creeped upon us again as we start another week with spring only a couple of days away.

As the March winds lessen to soon bring us April showers.

Which season is more appealing for you?

Have a seat........rest for a few minutes or an hour while you drink your tea.........please take time to come back for a visit.  Enjoy your day.             Mar

A Toast to the Irish........

Maxine can be found at Hallmark Cards, Crabby Road

An Old Irish Blessing

Whenever you go and whatever you do .
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

*********************************
If St. Patrick's Day is your Birthday............then here is a wish for you.
May you live a long life
Full of gladness and health.
With a pocket full of gold As the least of your wealth.
May the dreams you hold dearest.
Be those which come true.
The kindness you spread.
Keep returning to you.

Happy Birthday.

Party with the Irish and many Blessings to You.

Thanks for visiting on this wonderful day that the Irish celebrate.......won't be around tomorrow so come and bring your coffee on Monday to sit for awhile.

*************************

DANce Your Own DANCE................

Get up and dance.  Let the heartbeat of the Earth move up from the soles of your feet and set your body into motion.  There is nothing to learn but FREEDOM.  Step, shuffle, sway, bend.  Dance on the floor, dance in your wheelchair.  Dance with your hands, dance with your shoulders.  Dance with yourself, dance with other women.  Hold hands while you dance.  Bump your behinds, bump bellies.  Let your eyes do the dancing.  Dance everywhere, dance anywhere.  Go to church and dance in the pews.  Dance whenever you need to.  Dance your anger, dance your joy, dance your indecision.  Watch a belly dancer dance with a snake in sensual, fluid movements.  Feel the energy crackle when a woman dances flamenco.  Watch elders dance the old dances.  Go to a play or a movie where everyone dances in perfect step with perfect legs and perfect precision.  Go home, forget everything you saw, and DANCE YOUR OWN DANCE.

                           --Rachel Snyder  365 Words of Well-Being for Women


Thanks for stopping by and hope you take time to Dance today..................bring your tea and come again.              Mar

Quote of the Day........& Cake, too

Love the moment,

and the ENERGY of that moment will spread beyond all  boundaries.                                    -  Cartia Kent

I believe most people have heard the phrase.......you can't always have your cake and eat it too.  Well you can't eat the photo but I've included my favourite Carrot Cake recipe from Bonnie Stern  DESSERTS

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

In large bowl beat together until very light.............

4 eggs

1cup honey

1/2 cup brown sugar

Beat in....................

3/4 cup vegetable oil

Stir in ...................

2cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 T. cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

pinch allspice

Stir until barely combined.......................

Stir in..............

3 cups finely grated carrots

1/2 cup toasted pecans

1/2 cup coconut

Pour batter into greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish.....................

Bake 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until center of cake is firm to touch.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat till smooth..............

4 oz. cream cheese

2 Tablespoons butter

Add and beat till smooth and spreadable..............

2 cups icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Cake can be frosted in pan or remove from pan and frosted.

ENJOY  your Tea and Cake and ponder each moment!!!

Please, Share your Carrot Cake Recipe.

Thanks for stopping by with your coffee...............please come again.

Marlene

Quote for the Day........

When life is sweet, say THANK YOU and CELEBRATE.

And when life is bitter say THANK YOU and GROW.

--Shauna Niequest

Another Wednesday...........another Day..............,middle of another Week.

After beautiful spring days, ice and snow has fallen overnight in New Brunswick, so I posted the flowers hoping your day would become a little brighter.

Are you waiting for spring?

Thanks for stopping by as I celebrate each day that I sit on my porch with my morning coffee.............come again.

Leave me a note if you have time...........loved to hear from you.

Mar

Women of Spirit - Debbie

My colour is deep rich blue - cobalt blue, I guess is closest and when I see that colour when I close my eyes I know that I am in a place of oneness with God's Spirit and all creation.

My Spirit is rooted in deep joy and attentiveness to God.  It gets out of balance when I forget to draw on the well of joy or simply push too many things down on it so that it can't bubble up and give me life so that I may share that joy with others.  And it is a Spirit that tries to be attentive to God's voice in the silence and spoken through others and is learning just how often she resists the yearning of God for her own Spirit.

Debbie  -  Women of Spirit Collection

Does the joy in your spirit get pushed down or aside because of obligations or should do this or that?
What colour is Joy for you?

Thanks for bringing your coffee and sitting on the porch listening to the birds.............come again.

Quote for Monday..............

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
--Lao-Tzu


Appreciate you dropping by for a few moments...........come again and maybe stay longer.

Enjoy your day.
Marlene

Happy Weekend!!!!  Hope you can kick back and relax or do something for Fun.

(the photo is at sitting Sunset Beach Cottages & Suites  Deer Island, New Brunswick looking at the  water)


Quote for the Day..............

Families are like fudge--mostly sweet with a few nuts.
--Author Unknown

Thanks for sitting on the porch..............hope to see you on Monday as I won't be in tomorrow as it is the Sabbath ------
Marlene

Take.....Take Time

Take 
                 Take your time.  Take a deep breath.  When you've done an outstanding job, stand up and take a bow.  Take yourself seriously and others will, too.  When things get hot and heavy, take a chill pill.  Take others at their word--and take them to task if they don't follow through.  Take charge when the situation demands it:  when you're asked, or when no one else will, or when it's obvious that you're the woman to take the reins.  Take the bull by the horns and wrestle him to the ground with your bare hands.  Always take a moment before you speak.  Take a moment to compose yourself.  Take another breath.  Loosen up and take a chance.  Close your eyes and take a leap of faith.  Stop taxiing the runway already, and take off!
                                                 ---Rachel Snyder

My Ramblings.................The above Quote of a Different Nature is from a book 365 Words of Well-Being for Women by Rachel Snyder that I purchased in 1997.  I've decided to use some of her words for well-being in my blog instead of just a quote.  I believe that there is a something for each woman in Snyder's writings.  Enjoy.

Take time to leave a comment as to what you found interesting in the "take message."


Thanks for dropping by with your coffee or tea to sit awhile on the porch while we wait for the sun to appear..............come again.

Celebrate Women...........

CELEBRATE all theWomen you know...........

Quote for the day..............

Keep your face always toward the sunshine.
   ---Walt Whitman

My wish for each woman..........may your sunny enthusiastic spirit be with you always.

Happy Women's Day

So glad you could drop by on this special day and raise your glass to all women...........come again.

Quote of the Day.....

Happy Wednesday to YOU......................

Quote for today.................

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have,

 and one of the best things you can be.

----Douglas Pagels

Thanks for stopping by......hope you are inspired...........bring your tea and visit again.

Marlene

Women of Spirit - Bonnie

My spirit at 51 years old is abounding with energy, enthusiasm, a limitless capacity for joy and love of a grand baby, a successful example to myself and other women of the heights one can raise to when realizing finally that there are no limitations.

When I was a younger woman, I was often in the depths of despair, angry, overburdened, felt under appreciated, unloved, jealous.

How wonderful it is to be so carefree of so many of those feelings that came from worrying how someone else felt about me, or saw me.  I am free.

My colours are earthy, forestry, rich, smooth, soft brown and many other greens.
The feel is as soft as moss and as freshly fallen leaves with brown spots that no longer seem unattractive.  There are some hard spots but mostly soft, gentle, mushy mossy green radiating in sunlight.

Bonnie  -- Women of Spirit

Quote of the Day.............

Here we are again...a new work week begins....too fast for my liking I must say! So, will you forgive my rush in sharing a little bit of spring while still amid winter's chill...it's just too pretty not to....

 

 

Quote of the day....................

               God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change

               The courage to change the things I can

               And the wisdom to know the difference.

                                                         --Reinhold Niebuhr

 

The reason I'm using this quote, which can be termed a prayer, is that I watched Oprah's Master piece with Paula Deen and she mentioned that this quote/prayer changed her life.  This Serenity Prayer has popped into my space so many times the last week that I wondering what I'm supposed to learn.  Has that every happened to you..........the same message hits around you many times?

Peace be with you this week as you travel along.

 

Thanks for stopping by with your glass of wine.......and sitting on my porch for a few minutes to catch a moment of serenity.                Marlene

 

 

 

 

The Seasons

The Seasons.............the Circle of Life..................

each season is another step to the next one teaching me something about life or myself or how to live my life.

The seasons invite me to honor the earth and my journey........time to rest, time to germinate, time to grow & bloom, time to let go and time to rest, time...............

What is your favourite season?

What season are you in at this moment on your journey?

Are you tired of winter and waiting for spring?

Thanks for stopping by to share the seasons with me...........come again, bring your tea and stay awhile.