Sabbath Rest

You have to recharge.
We are designed to.
We have a nearly six day charge to our bodies and we know when it's time to recoup from the flurry of activity that we indulge in.
So, in case you're looking for permission to shut down for awhile, be it 2 hours, 20 minutes, 1 day, whatever you need to get to that feeling of  'Ahhh....I think now I can continue', then I'm here to give you that permission.  Granted.  Permisso.  Go sit down and be quiet, inside and out.

It just was not a tricky way of the church to get our attention on Sunday.  No indeed.  Our Divine All knowing Creator, knew that our limited energized bodies and minds would need refueling to continue on our strength and creativity.
So today, I recharged.
Big Time.
Two Hour Nap.  This does not usually happen.  Sometimes a quick 20 minutes.  Sometimes a bit on the porch swing.  Maybe a sit under the pergola gazing at the greenery.  But today, I joined the Hubby, who needed some major recoup after his now 6 day a week/12 hour+ day weeks of late.
When I woke up, I felt like I had been on vacation.  Chomping at the bit to get up and out to the tasks at hand.
As is often the case, when Hubby works overtime, so do I.  I feel so painfully empathetic to his plight, that I feel beholdin' to pick up the slack around here.  And so I have.
It also helps terribly to know that in nearly a month, I shall be hosting My First Annual mama's collection of Friends Crafting/Sewing/Spiritual/Mothering Retreat here at my home.
How's that for giving your whole estate a once over?  Positively Energizing.  I now look at the whole house with a more than critical eye, thinking, 'How will The Ladies View This?'  There is nothing like inviting company to your home, whether it be for dinner, coffee or a retreat(!) to spur you on to big accomplishments.
But first you rest.
Then you work a bit.  Or mommy a lot.  But always, eke out the few solitary, quiet moments to reflect and retool.  Bodies need strengthening and minds and attitudes need tempering no matter what your workload.  And the more you invest in your own down time, the more you'll be able to help others carry their burden.

Do yourself and those you love, a favor and shut down for a modicum of time this week and just reflect. 
And be at peace.....

Two Meals: Two Days: One Effort

Sunday Lunch.
What is your pleasure?
Some like to take Sabbath Rest seriously and go out to eat.
Which works well with Hubby and I due to our Church Commute on Sundays.
But this week, mama was a bit under the weather and I stayed in under the covers while Hubby
bore the weight of our spirituality on his own broad shoulders.
Waking up dearly late, I quickly walked only one dog so that I could dodge the rain and get my lazy (but feeling much better, thank you) self together before the Hubby returned.

I do some of my best thinking/praying while out walking the canines. My mind feels neutralized and naturalized and the brain is oxygenated for some creative processes.
Today, I wanted to come up with an interesting lunch for the Hubby, helping him refresh after his solo trip to church. We so enjoy our Church Commute. Good time for conversation, crocheting (me silly, someone has to drive!) and updating our separate lives after a week of busyness. Especially when overtime interrupts our usual down time. So this is what I came up with :
Toasted Chicken and Melted Cheese Sandwiches with Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions.
Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Pecans with Granny Smith Apples.
Oh My.
But in order to get here, we have to visit last night's meal:
Italian Chicken with Aforementioned Spinach Salad, Baked Yams with brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon.
What about the colors in this meal?
An Antioxidant Delight! Vitamin A and C are tripping over themselves in this easy, easy supper!
Oxalic Acid in it's usual small doses are doing their thing not to mention the heart healthy nuts and glorious sweet potatoes!
Boneless, skinless chicken breast rolled in butter then covered in Italian Bread Crumbs, parsley, paprika, garlic salt and Parmesan and Romano Cheeses. Cook on high in microwave for 10 minutes. Then place in preheated (375 degrees) oven to finish off the cooking/browning. 1/2 cup of white wine added to steam it well, with 6 oz of mozzarella cheese as a topping. Chopped green onions could be added as well. Bake till somewhat browned and cheese is melted.
Easy as pie.
Which would be good too.
But we had Angel Food Cake with Strawberries.

All told, maybe 1/2 hour for the Saturday meal preparation, then about 15 minutes for the Sunday Sandwich.

Faster than Fast Food on Friday!

Good Eating!

Sabbath Things

" Behold how very good it is, A pleasant thing to see; When brothers join to live as one In peace and unity! Psalm 133: 1

Rainy gray Sunday.
Time to go to church and worship corporately.
Time to sing Psalms and hear His Word and learn how to utilize it in our lives.
Good stuff. Infusion.

And time to eat!
Once a month, we share a lunch before an afternoon service that takes the place of an evening gathering.
And we ate well.
Good food for the soul and the tummy.
There is a reason, you know, why Jesus told many parables referring to food.
It is the foundation of most things in life. The impetus and the enjoyment.
And today it was beautiful as well.
Photo worthy.
Then, a quick late supper of Spinach, Broccoli, Cheese, Red Pepper Omelet.
Good Feeding today!


Coming This Week:
The Art Gallery Visit!
Crafting in Your Home: Just What Do You Do With It All?
Stories Behind the Photos
And more.......

Sabbath Auction

Had a wonderful time of worship Sunday morning.
Had a nice diet-type lunch.
Then, we went on to different type of 'religious' experience....
A SUNDAY auction! Unheard of around here. This means, Hubby gets to come with. With his wallet....and truck and back.......
What an amazing, amazing auction.....
Four hours of standing and being out bid and out bidding some pretty rabid Lawrence County crafters.....
Some things went goodly priced.
Other things went surprisingly high. One jewelry box full of costume jewelry sold for 245.00. Nearby attendees verbalized what I was thinking; What did I miss in that box? One small box of hankies went for 65.00. And on it went.
Pleasant weather. Fun auctioneer. Grand company with the hubby.
A good day... This sweet little guy was in a whole pail of similiar creatures. All magnets of some kind.

This sweet set sold for a good price of 22.50....

I truly loved this.....I could hear my girls and girly-in-law having a royal hoot about this....Then watching who was going to bid on it! A few other things were noteworthy as well: A milking pail with the words, CALF-A-Teria....Laughed hard to myself.....then a large book of crafts called: Safety Pins in 3-D.........

According to the auctioneer, Mrs. Hill, the owner of this abundant collection, was in her 90's when she passed from this world and by the looks of it, she was probably a bit peeved not being able to take it all with her........It certainly appears that she was planning on crafting into eternity....

Do you think local stores in the 60's had any crochet thread left? And yarn....Was there indeed a shortaged caused by Mrs. Hill??

This wide, vast assortment went on the whole length of her property.

The poor auctioneer was overwhelmed by all the teeny little thingys that were boxed up and he had no idea what they were......Standing back a bit, I got terribly giggled watching this sewing gaggle of women, bobbing and bending over allllllllll these boxes, searching for gold......We all looked liked a bunch of chickens and hens pecking at our finds.....

A fun, fun truck full day...

Rest in peace, Pauline Hill....Your things are in good hands.....