Dancing with Jesus

Wow!  You never know what you are going to get when you order music these days -- even Christian music.  I ordered some CD's for Christmas gifts, and I put them in my CD player this morning to listen to them to see if they are any good.

One of the songs is SO BEAUTIFUL.  I have played it over and over and over.  I feel like Jesus walks into this room and dances with me every time I play it.  It makes the hair stand up on my arms.  It is sung by Matt Hagee and is called "The Table".  It is about Jesus coming to sit at a table with you or me, and it describes what WE bring to the table and what CHRIST brings to the table.  I believe it is referring to communion.

The music is a waltz, I think.  I want to learn the words so I can sing it to Jesus myself.  Awesome!

Here are the words:

What we bring to the table

is our need for a Savior,

our longing for the sacrifice

that cleanses us from sin.

What He brings to the table

is a body that was broken,

with a flood of mercy flowing

as our souls are fed by Him.

He says come take and eat,

He says come drink your fill,

Without price -- without shame,

Come and taste heaven's meal.

Grace divine, love so real.

What we bring to the table

is our fear of tomorrow,

the shadow of uncertainty

that darkens all our days.

What He brings to the table
Is a hope that is eternal,
A peace beyond all reason
and a vision of our way.

He says come take and eat,
He says come drink your fill,
Without price -- without shame,
Come and taste heaven's meal.

Grace divine -- love so real.

What we bring to the table
is our need for a Savior,
What He brings to the table
meets our every need.

The music makes it soooooooooooooooooooo beautiful.  I'm going to go turn it on again.  This CD may be worn out before I give it away!

There is another song that gives me goosebumps too.  It is called "After the Rain".

I need to clean up this room.  I've been wrapping presents for Hollie and John all morning.  They live in Alaska, and I want to be sure they get there before Christmas.  I was going to fly them here for Christmas, but the rates tripled and it would have been over $4,000.  I wanted them to get the tickets months ago, but they really couldn't because they didn't know John's schedule at work or Hollie's for school.

Better start dancing with the vacuum in this room!

Hugs, Joy

Skinny Screws and Not-So-Gorgeous Red Blouse

Hello friends on Thursday.  This week is flying by like all the others in 2012.  It is suppose to be 76 degrees outside today.  That's just not right for December!  It is lovely for shopping, however, so I did stop at the Liquor store last night on my way home.  It is a former worn out gas station or dump -- not sure -- but I have always been afraid to stop there even though I drive right by it every day on my way home from our store.  I wasn't even sure it was a store, but there was a lit up "Liquor" sign hanging in the window, so I thought it was either some teenager's bedroom or a store.  Decided to find out. 

There was a very nice man inside who informed me he wasn't allowed to sell anything that didn't have liquor in it when I asked him if he had any stoppers to put in the wine bottle after the cork was removed.  He had my favorite, Reunite Lambrusco, and I was very surprised that he also had Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir (sounds like "pee no more" -- thanks Deanna).  It is the one that is suppose to be good for you, so I've decided to learn to like it even though it does cost 3 x as much as Lambrusco.

I don't know HOW I got off on that subject.  I was going to tell you about the skinny screw.  You know what that is, don't you?  It is a screw that has such a tiny slot in it that when you put your sewing screwdriver in it to turn it counterclockwise to loosen it, you jam the screwdriver into your thumb and slice it open.  Yep!  That is how my day started.  Funny thing is, when I picked the screwdriver up, I thought to myself, "I hope I don't cut myself with this."  Shoulda been a sign, huh???

I decided that my red blouse was boring and looked just like all my other blouses -- except for the fabric -- and I wanted to do SOMETHING to make it different.  It actually does have a different sleeve -- a 2-piece sleeve -- but you can't really tell.  I decided that I had just enough fabric left to put a ruffle on the sleeve, and I remembered that ruffler contraption I had paid a small fortune for a few years ago.  I got out the ruffler attachment and that is where the skinny screw was that I had to loosen.  After that bloody event, some Neosporin and a bandaid, I continued with the ruffle adventure.  FIRST, I had to remember how to use the crazy thing because Bernina doesn't believe in putting directions in the box.  I fiddled with it for quite awhile, and I figured out how to make it work.  Here is what I came up with:

Of course, I had to make two of them.  It took me a long time, so I hope you are impressed!  I put the two ruffles on the end of my sleeves, and I put the blouse in the washing machine.  I took a shower, ate lunch, ironed my blouse and put it on.  I thought I would be thrilled with the fit, but I wasn't.  I think the fabric is just really stiff though, and the blouse is fine.  While I was pressing my new blouse, Jerry suddenly appeared in the doorway.  Since he left to go to another town this morning, I was really surprised.  I told him I would be down to fix his lunch as soon as I got my blouse on. 

Then it happened.  I walked into the kitchen with my new red blouse on adorned with darling ruffles, and I might as well have had my pajamas on for all the notice it got.  That is when I decided it must not look very good -- or it looks like all my others.

So here's a picture.  I'm trying to show off the ruffles.  I'm going to start a knit top next, I think.  Either that, or think of some more people I know to send Christmas cards to.

When Jerry left to go back to work, I came upstairs to take this picture for you.  That went well UNTIL I tried to download it into PhotoShop.  The most INSANE thing happened.  PS would open but I would get an error message saying the world was coming to an end -- or something like that -- and I had to close it immediately or else!!!  I closed it, and tried again -- and again -- and again.  I rebooted.  Same thing.  I decided I was going to have to call those people in India to figure out what to do.  I SWEAR, those people don't have a clue what they are doing, and they just read little help sheets to you. 

I guess there is a new law that you can only TALK to one of those India guys if you have the LATEST version of PS.  Since PS 11 has come out, my PS10 is now an OLD version.  Hence, you cannot talk to a person -- you have to CHAT with a person.  Here is how my afternoon went:

From 1:12 PM until 2:18 PM, I chatted with Santosh.  Got disconnected.
From 2:25 PM until 3:07 PM, I chatted with Gokul.  Got disconnected.
From 3:41 PM to 4:30 PM, I chatted with Tanvi.  Got disconnected.

At 4:30, Tanvi was in my computer trying to figure out what to do.  He told me I needed to make him a temporary Administrator or he couldn't help me.  As I was TRYING to do that while wondering if he was going to see everything in my computer and if he was really some kind of spy, our chat disconnected, but not before I got Jerry on the phone to ask him how to do something Tanvi told me to do.  That caused me to have to LOG OFF and LOG BACK ON.  Would you believe that doing that somehow miraculously has cured PhotoShop?  I had already lost the chat with Tanvi, so it had nothing to do with him.  Three people, and none of them could help me.  AARRGGHH!!!  And people think I am not patient.

Time to run.  Have to make supper for the Master!

Hugs, Joy

Hello Angie and Wednesday Stuff

Welcome aboard, Angie, from Australia.  I am so excited to have you here, and if I can help you in any way with your sewing projects, please just ask in the comment section.

It is almost 3:30 in the afternoon here in Southern Oklahoma where I live at the moment -- when I'm not in Central Oklahoma at our other house -- but where I have to go again in just one week.  I am very thankful that we have two homes, but I sure am not a fan of running back and forth between them constantly.  Just as I think I will get to be in one town for at least two weeks, we have to turn around and go back to the other one.

So WHY is that a big deal, you ask?  The big deal is I have to haul half my sewing room and all of my jewelry-making supplies, and perishable groceries back and forth.  Jerry gets mad at me every time it is time to load the car, and he always says the same thing:

Do you HAVE to take ALL OF THAT, Joy!?

Then I get mad, and I say, "If I can't take my stuff, I'm NOT going!"

OR, I will say, "I'll just put all this stuff in my own car and drive up there by myself!"

Sometimes, I'll say, "You love those CATS more than you love me!  You would never think of leaving them behind, and they take up half the back seat!"

He ALWAYS says one of two things to all of the above:

1.  Nothing.

2.  "How much room is it going to take?"

Then I always say, "The same amount it took the last 5,000 times you asked!"

Then we put it all in the truck, and we leave -- FINALLY! 

Now, I'm telling myself that after Christmas, this will stop, and I will be able to stay in my sewing room for weeks and weeks and weeks -- but, NO! -- I just remembered that Phylly and I are going to Tulsa in February for a 4-day sewing retreat overseen by Louise Cutting. 

Oh, well.  Since America will probably be OVER the fiscal cliff by then, I will be thankful that I can afford the gas for my car to get me to Tulsa -- or Phylly's car, because it is nicer, and it holds more fabric! 

I hear Louise Cutting is a lot of fun, and her classes are in great demand.  I'll sure let you know my thoughts on that after I take one. 

The class is being held at a wonderful fancy-fabric store in Tulsa called The Cloth Merchants.  They really need to hold those classes in a remote farm house somewhere where there is NOTHING to buy except the class. 

I'm doing Christmas cards today.  So far, I can only think of 13 people I know that would even care if I sent them a card.  That is pretty sad, huh? 

That doesn't count my kids or grandkids though. 

I better go.  Need to go back to the house and finish my red blouse which is all done except for the buttons, and as it turns out, that is the hardest part.  This fabric is a combination of reds and burgundy's, and it is hard figuring out WHICH buttons look the best on it.  I'll show it to you real soon -- maybe in tomorrow's post.

Hugs, Joy

I'm Baaaack! Crash, Phylly & Stuff.

Helloooooooooooooooooo everybody and especially, Sewing Nannie!  Thank you so much for all your comments.  I love it when someone comments on my blog.   

I have been buried in one thing or another for the last few days.  Thank goodness, it wasn't the ground, lol, and I am back!

Saturday morning -- I think it was -- yep, it was -- I walked out into the living room for my first cup of coffee and to sit in my glider where I USUALLY pick up my laptop computer -- the one I just bought a few months ago after my other one was stolen -- and I check my emails and my blog comments.  I sat down with my coffee and looked down at the laptop lying (laying?) peacefully on the carpet beside me.  I started to reach down and pick it up, but then I remembered that Phylly was coming over, and we were having a play day.  

My next thought was, "I better put that up on the counter so I don't step on it today if we come in here to have a cup of tea or something."  So while I was still holding my coffee in my right hand, I threw my blanket on the floor in front of me, and I got up out of my chair to bend over and pick up the laptop with my left hand.  BIG MISTAKE!  #1.  I was still half asleep.  #2.  It takes two hands to pick it up properly.  I lifted it with my left hand and pulled it up to the top of the cabinet, but just as I reached the top, the thing slipped out of my hand and crashed on it's corner onto the floor below.  At first, I thought it was no biggy, and I just picked it up and placed it on the cabinet top.  I walked into the kitchen muttering that I couldn't believe my weak wrist and that I had just dropped my computer.  Jerry -- who is usually totally Joy deaf -- suddenly got supersonic hearing.

"WHAT did you say about dropping your computer?!"

I explained.

He said, "Did you plug it in to see if it still works?"

"Uhhhhhhhhhhh, no."

"Well don't you think you should do that, Joy?!"

So I went in and got it, and I delivered it into his hands because I wanted to put the butter on my popped-up DESM toast.

Then it happened.  The morning got real hectic.  He started yelling at me for being so careless and wasting the money, and I started yelling at him for when some guy called him 35 years ago and told him they were going to quit mining Blue Sapphires in Africa, and he should buy one right that minute because they were going to be so valuable, and when he had it appraised years later, it was worth HALF what he paid for it.

We went around and around with this extremely mature argument until we both just decided it was stupid, and we quit, and I straddled his lap in his office chair and started kissing his face.  He has a real hard time fighting me like that, although he does try.

Besides, Phylly was coming, and I didn't really care if I had a laptop or not at that point.

I suppose I should add that the laptop was totally ruined.  We now have lovely lines all over the screen resembling pick-up sticks!

Phylly got there shortly after 9 AM, and we dove right into our projects.  Well, she always has to make her hot tea first, but then we did.  I showed her my red coat and asked her advice on the final steps.  She decided to work on her Sure-fit Designs pants pattern and turn it into a Princess style so she could take it in under her bottom. 

Phylly brought me the fabric leftover from the last dress she had made because I LOVED the fabric, and I couldn't figure out why I didn't have such a gorgeous piece in my stash.  I found one of my Sure-fit Designs blouse patterns to use to cut out with that fabric.  It is almost done, and I would finish it if I wasn't talking to you right now.  I'll show it to you, of course, when it is done.  Probably tomorrow.

Phylly had to leave at 3:00 to get ready for a Christmas party, and I worked on my blouse for awhile.  Then I noticed Jerry outside in the back yard working on the fence, so I went out to help him.  I was a huge help.  All I did was hold up two boards so he could screw long screws into them.  He was going with me after that to look for a new laptop, so I figured that was the least I could do. 

I fixed us both a sandwich and some quacomole' dip with chips, and I kissed Jerry some more and told him what a hunk and a genius he is.  He likes it when I do that.  (-;  Then we headed for Best Buy which is about the only place left that sells computers.  That is when I discovered that Windows 7 -- which I was still learning -- is suddenly obsolete and nonexistent.  I couldn't believe it!  I had just switched from XP to 7 when that other computer got stolen.  Now, I have to learn Windows 8.  It is pretty strange too.  There are a bunch of colored squares floating all over the place, and I have no clue why they are there.  As you try to do something with those colored squares, other things pop up here and there that you don't know what to do with either.  I'm sure I will learn it.  It's a matter of taking the time to do it -- as everything else.

And I didn't forget yesterday's sermon.  It was awesome.  Matt Hagee -- the son -- is preaching about standing on the rock.  He talks about how our trust is NOT in Obama or the government, it is in Almighty God!  His promises to lead us, guide us and care for us -- no matter what -- are all over the Bible.  We must trust and OBEY.  You don't get to discuss what part of God's word you want to believe and what part you don't and what part you will obey and what part you won't.  It is ALL or NOTHING with God.  It is HIS WAY, or the highway. 

Now, that is a MAJOR paraphrase by me, so please listen for yourself if you would like to hear the real thing at www.jhm.org and then go to GETV and check the archived messages.

I've got to go.  We arrived back at our real home yesterday about 3 PM.  It was 72 degrees outside, so I asked Jerry if we could practice shooting our guns.  He never says "No" to that! 

I want to show you my new blouse, so I have to get it done.  I left the red coat at the other house because Jerry's truck was packed full, and I didn't want it squished.  I'll be back tomorrow.

Hugs, Joy

Potty Watch and Gas Thieves

This has been a weird day.  My husband neglected to tell me that construction people were showing up this morning at 8 AM.  Well, he did tell me -- but it was about 7:30 AM.  He was in his underwear, and I was in my pajamas.  I said, "You better get ready so you can answer the door because I'm not answering it."  So after about 15 minutes passed, he decided to get in the shower.  GREAT!  So then I tell myself, "Those people are ALWAYS late, so you don't need to change."

Then I looked out the front window and noticed a black car in front of my house.  I yelled at Jerry in the shower, "THERE IS A BLACK CAR IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE!!!"  He didn't hear me.  I looked out the window again and an SUV pulled up behind the black car.  I yelled at Jerry, "THERE IS ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE!!!  ARE YOU READY TO ANSWER THE DOOR?" 

No answer either time from Jerry and, NO, he wasn't ready!

I ran into my bedroom closet as fast as I could and grabbed a bra out of the underwear drawer.  I put it on as quickly as I could under the black tee shirt I had worn to bed.  Then I ran to the sink -- grabbed a hair brush -- ran it through my very mussed-up hairdo which did no good at all -- grabbed a tube of libstick and smeared it over my chapped lips -- and then it happened:

DING DONG!!!!  It was 8:00 AM straight up.  Jerry was still dressing and his hair was all wet.  I went to the door and opened it up just a crack so my mouth could talk and someone would know where my words were coming from.  That wasn't good enough though.  The very nice man wanted to introduce himself and shake my hand.  GREAT!

"Hi, I'm David."

I said, "I'm Joy, and I usually don't look this bad."

He said, "Nice to meet you." 

David went around to the back of the house to start working with his crew on the soffits that have been ruined by leaky rain gutters clogged up with ten million leaves.  I went to get Jerry and told him I did NOT want to deal with these men, and he needed to get outside.  Guess what he said to me????  Go ahead, guess.......

"I have to leave, Joy.  I'm going to work."

So, I have been stuck here all day long.  I haven't been in the shower yet.  I did run into my closet this morning and take off my pajama pants and put on some jeans.  I didn't dare try to get in the shower because right after Jerry drove off this morning, one of the guys rang the bell.  I answered.  He wanted to know if it would be alright if they used one of our bathrooms?  I wasn't at all thrilled about that, but what could I say.  I said, "Will you have your guys KNOCK before they come in to use it?"  He said he would.  There are probably 6 guys out there.  Something was lost in the translation, however, because when they have to use the bathroom, they knock on the garage door, and then they just come in.  Several times, I didn't even know a guy was in here. 

Other than that, I have worked on the red coat.  It is almost done, but I'm not sure if I'm happy with it or not.  The "bagging" of the lining was very strange, and the hem at the bottom is supposed to be mysteriously held up by the lining, but the lining is 1/2" longer.  Bazaar.  I can only take it in small doses.  Plus, I don't like doing detail work with strange men coming in my house.

And that wasn't the ONLY strange man who came in.  Yesterday, Jerry and I finally signed a contract and paid half down to have the crumby contractor-grade windows replaced in this house.

Someone came out today to REmeasure every single window.  I don't remember his name, but I remember he was tall and skinny, had a silver ring in each ear, and the lovely crack of his butt showed as he bent over to measure something.

I can now tell you that it doesn't matter if the guy is fat or skinny.  It is still GROSS!!!

I am so glad that the built-in "carport" is being done behind our store.  That is why we are here right now.  Jerry is supervising it.  Jerry told me today that each of our delivery vans has 4 or 5 plugs in the fuel tank from thieves drilling holes in them to drain out $80 worth of gasoline.  It is just shocking how evil the world is now.  One of our employees had her fuel tank drilled and drained while we were OPEN, and she was sitting at her desk.  I would put cameras in the parking lot, but thieves could just break them with a rock or something.  And even if you had a picture of the creep, how would you ever find him?  It's not like they have their address tattooed on their forehead.

I better get up out of this chair.  Hope you are having a nice day.  The weather is very nice here.  Wish I was out in it, but I am on potty patrol.

Hugs, Joy

Thanksgiving

GOOD MORNING!!!!!!!!!!  I am feeling ALMOST back to my usual chipper, happy self today.  This cold has hung on like a cat up a tree.  You just can't leave the house these days if you want to stay well.  Everywhere I go, someone is coughing or gagging or has a runny nose.  YUK!  I actually warn customers and clerks that I am sick, and I tell them to not come near me.  Phylly and I went to OG yesterday, and Heath waited on us, but I didn't even give him a hug.  Phylly was feeling fine at lunch, but about two hours later, she came down with a stomach bug. 

I have wanted so much to exercise on my trampoline, but I haven't been able to.  Every time I would jump just twice, I would start coughing or choking.  I wanted to go to Sears too to walk on the Elliptical that is exactly like mine, but the young salesman, Zachary, who helped me there comes over and stands right next to me and talks the whole time.  That is fine, of course, but I didn't want to breathe on him and make him sick.  Plus, I probably would have taken two strides and started coughing.  ANYWAY, the point is, I feel like a lump of lazy fat clay.  I need to get my heart rate up, and I hope to be able to do that today.

On Sunday, we picked up my sister, Judy, at 10:30 in the morning, and we headed to Wewoka to visit my Mother.  I had not been to visit her for about 5 years because she doesn't like me to visit her (as I explained in another post).  She was pretty much the same except much thinner, and much less memory.

Here is my 85-year old mother, Marie.  No arthritis.  No illnesses.  No drugs whatsoever.  She is very healthy -- except for her mind -- but don't try to tell HER that!

Animals all over the place, but she adores them, and they adore her.

The dark one is named after my husband, Jerry.

The other one is another "J" name.  "Jackie", I think.

Mother has had SO MANY animals, I can't remember all the names.

This is Jenny, I think.  She isn't the favorite, however.  Kind of like me.

Here are the two FAVORITES!

Joey, the cat, and Judy, the youngest daughter.
















Her house was very clean inside but in need of maintenance on the outside.  I offered our services, but she blatantly refused them, and she told me she can take care of it all herself because she knows some guy who knows some guy......  THAT is the reason the place is in the shape it is in now, but you can't tell her. 

When I say she lives NEAR the lake, I mean practically IN the lake.  This is a double-wide mobile home, and she had Daddy put it right up next to the water.  She grew up in Boston near the ocean, and she LOVES the water.

Are you noticing all the purple?  She is crazy about purple.  She made all the curtains years ago before she lost the sight in one of her eyes.  One of her animals scratched her eye while she was bathing him.  Notice all the water bottles and the EXTRA stove.  Mother is prepared for no electricity or bad roads.  The stove is propane and is her heat supply when the electric goes out.  The other stove is electric.

My sister gourmeted-up (a new word) the spinach because I didn't bring a vegetable.

I have to get busy.  Lots to do today, and the window man is coming at 3:00 to give us a price for replacing all the windows that are no longer sealed between the two panes.  You can get icicles on your nose if you get too near them when it is cold outside.

That's all folks.  Have a nice day!  It is a cold one here -- 26 degrees outside.

Hugs, Joy

Pics of My Camo Pants As Promised

FINALLY!  All 3 camo pants with my one SFD pant pattern are done.  All three have pockets and a fly front.  I am finally feeling better, and I think part of it is because I have not had any drugs today.  I don't know how anyone can be a drug addict.  I can't even stand the cold medicine.  I hate feeling foggy and tired.  I sound like someone snuck in my bedroom last night and hid a bullfrog in my throat, but other than that and a bit of a sore throat, I feel a lot better.

Jerry is home, of course, since it is Saturday, so I talked him into following me around with my camera.  He used to complain like I asked him to stand outside naked or something even worse, but he just does it now.  I told him he did really good, and he was so proud of himself.  I wanted to see if my camo pants really made me disappear in the trees.  Unfortunately, we are at our Edmond house today, and we have only a few trees here.  If I was in Kingston, I could have completely disappeared for you.

This is one Sure-fit Designs pattern drawn to my measurements, and three pair of pants using camouflage fabric.  Jerry thinks I've got a major problem, and he keeps asking me, "What's with all the camo?"  Well!  Everyone knows you should have at least three pair of camo pants when

A.  You live in the woods, and

B.  You are going to visit your Mother who lives in the woods.

Here's the pictures:

On the left (I hope) is the 2nd pair I made. 

It is heavy camo fabric from Hancock Fabrics.

I liked the green in it, but there wasn't a piece of fabric anywhere in Hancock's that matched this print.  Hence, the black shirt.

Pardon the shadows and the chalk marking the front fly.  Thought I washed that off.

Got Laurie's bracelet on!

On the right is the third pair I made.  One leg looks like it is from a different print than the other leg.

A good reason to choose a smaller print to make your pants out of.

Again, I liked the green pine needles in this one, and again, no fabric anywhere to match!

And below is the first pair I made out of the camo fabric I found in my stash.  This is a lightweight cotton fabric, but it has been so warm here, I have worn them many times.  Jerry says they don't even look like camo.  Maybe they really aren't.  I still like them though!

That's it.  Gonna quit for today and go watch the boring football game with Jerry and then get ready for the trip to Mother's house tomorrow.  That one is about an hour and a half drive.  So glad Jerry is driving.

Hugs, Joy