Hand Made with Love

I stopped at Joann Fabrics today to pick up some odds and ends for some gifts I am making. I was in sticker shock when I left. I spent the entire $40 which I had taken out of the credit union "just in case". All I purchased were spools of ribbon, rick-rack, a couple of zippers, a yard of fabric, and a new plastic bobbin box. I was not able to get twill tape or even the grosgrain ribbon substitute in the sizes that I needed. I also did not find a hook for my newly painted crucifix, or stained glass paint. I sure hope you appreciate hand-made gifts when you receive them. They are far from cheap.

That said, I finally made it to the basement last night to do some cutting for said projects. I discovered that I had fewer fun fat quarters on hand than I thought. I must have given most of them away when I purged fabric last year. I have mostly solids on hand, not exactly the bright and cheerful prints which I saw at my class on Monday. I know I had been collecting solids to go with some of the weird second-hand fabrics which I have cut into quilt squares over the years. One thing at a time. I can buy matching prints as I complete projects.

I had a victory of sorts last night as I did vision therapy exercises. For a flash I saw in 3D while doing the Life Saver exercise. That gives me hope that I will continue to improve.

We had another sunny day, so I spent part of the afternoon cutting back perennials in my flower beds at home. I like to keep a few things up for landscape interest in the winter, and experts recommend leaving plant die-back for animal and insect habitat over winter. I do not like spring clean-up, however. 

I finished the second book of Rebecca Caudill's Fairchild series last night. The main character is Bonnie, the youngest of the Fairchild children. Every incident in the book includes the reactions of each of Bonnie's siblings in order of age from oldest to the youngest. In doing so, the author captures the feelings of a youngest child. I am sure many youngest children would empathize! Iwish that I knew the melodies for the many songs included in the story. My guess is that a first or second grader would enjoy the books.

Cyber Monday Class

I spent the afternoon at Just Sew Studio, formerly Associated Sewing. We learned how to make infinity scarves out of a woven fabric and out of a knit, and then a faux bias scarf. It was good to get out and do something creative and meet new people. The store has changed a bit since the last class I took several years ago. They now have a more extensive line of fabrics. The sample projects scattered around the store were made of warm and cheerful colors. I did buy a Terri Atkinson pattern for clutch/cosmetic bags, and the fusible fleece needed to complete three of them. It will be a start at using up some of my fabric collection. We had company on Saturday, so the house is clean. We are having leftovers for dinner, and I made cookies for my husband's lunches this evening. That means I can spend tomorrow sewing. I can throw some wash in at the same time, as long as I use only the washer or the dryer while my iron is plugged in. I am ready to go.

I took a short walk when I got home from class, and then another with Arthur after dinner. I like our evening walks, perhaps even  better in the dark of winter. I do not always get to go, depending on how many dishes I have to clean up after supper, and what other chores must be done. I am starting to have pain in my knees, which cause I do not know. It could be weight, lack of exercise, or arthritis. Time will tell. I may be able to tell in a few days after doing some of my physical therapy exercises again. I may start on Shaklee Joint Health Complex to rule out arthritis.

I am transitioning Gracie over to a dry food meant for cats susceptible to UTI's. Of course, she loves her dry food. Right now I am using it as "treats" until the canned food is gone.

I have about three hours of eye therapy to complete each evening if I do my syntonics with both sets of colors, as my therapist wanted. I notice that I can only do polorized reading after syntonics. Otherwise I cannot make out the printing.                   

Purgatory and Hungry Souls

I just finished this book from Tan Books (2009). It was a good read. I purchased it while I was working at Archangel Books and Gifts, and Arthur of course had it read sometime way back when. It caught my attention because of the many photographs it contained  of burn marks left by souls who had visited the living in hopes of obtaining spiritual relief from their sufferings. The author also caught my eye. I had met Gerard van den Aardweg several years earlier at a Human Life International conference held in Bloomington, Minnesota. Our meeting was memorable first because he was an excellent speaker on matters relating to homosexuality, and second, because after the talk we asked him a personal question. I wrote down his name, which he had to spell for me. As I wrote he said, "W", not "V". I had to explain that my very narrow "W" was in fact a "W". So much for my illegible handwriting! As a Vandeberg, I also felt a kinsman ship for this man who is from the Netherlands.

In addition to photographs from the Museum of Purgatory, the book also has some beautiful pictures of the Church of the Sacred Heart of the Suffering Souls in Rome. The church is dwarfed by the two buildings on either side, and yet it is a substantial structure replete with Gothic spires. The fiery paintings inside led me to believe that it would be a quiet, somewhat subdued, dark and yet warm place to pray. I would love to visit that church.

Mr. van den Aarweg made an interesting speculation in the book, namely that we may be surrounded by the souls of those who have died without knowing it due to our lack of holiness.

My emotions changed as I read the book. At first I felt very grateful for the gift of purgatory. I could see how much I would want to be purified before entering into the Beatific Vision, because God is so good, and I am not. As I completed it I hoped that the book would give me some impetus to live a holier, sacrificial life in order to avoid the horrible pains of purgatory.

I had prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet so much with my mom when she died, that after she died, it felt as if she was still present. We also had Gregorian masses offered for her, as Arthur had done for his dad. I shall continue to pray for my parents, grandparents and other relatives and friends. We never know how long a soul has to remain in purgatory. We do know from some of these apparitions and from Lucia at Fatima, that some souls will remain there until the end of time.

We hope that there is someone who will remember to pray for us and have masses said for us when we are gone. When the first of us dies, it will be time to set aside money to be used for masses for the repose of the soul of the second. Even better is our continuation of masses offered as we are yet alive.

I continue to battle a bad cough or bronchitis. I had been taking Mucinex to loosen the cough. However, I am developing a rash on my chest just like the one I had last Christmas. I am thinking guaifenesin is the culprit. I had had bronchitis prior to last year's rash, and had been using Mucinex then, too. Another reason to stick to my Shaklee.

Geri and I have spread my vision therapy to three week intervals. Meanwhile I have tons of exercises to do, with syntonics twice a day. Makes me wonder what I would do were I working full time. Not that I would ever be able to take that much time off for therapy sessions, unless I were on disability.

I bought a bunch more cookie cutters at Accent yesterday. My favorite is the doe. I love the ugly sweater cookie decorating idea that our friends the Pedersons do every year at Christmas, but the sweater cutter is huge, too much cookie for little grandchildren. I will wait until they are older.

Stamping Fun

I have been having fun stamping again.It all started because I have to send out a few cards and letters, and have to have the appropriate sentiments, and the necessary space to write what needs to be written. I have had the Stampin' Up Thankful for You set for a couple of years, but have barely used it. Now I can say that I have gotten my money's worth. I am really enjoying monochromatic designs since I got the Bold Brights DSP collection. I am ready to start stamping gifts for Christmas.

This afternoon I cleaned flower beds at St. John Cantius. I should have known better than to expect that the ground would not be frozen. I could not pull out a single annual. Still, I filled up an entire  contractor's bag full of compost. The Russian Sage is the bulkiest, and my highest priority in fall chores. It is the one plant I want cut back before new growth begins in the spring. The cat nip sent me into a coughing fit. It is quite the irritant for me. While fall or spring clean-up is the least favorite of my garden duties, it does have its rewards. I was in heaven with the scent of the rosemary from the Mary Garden. I cut several of the frozen stems to bring home. My hands smelled wonderful afterwards. Also very fragrant was the cranes bill geranium. Interesting to see that the stems on that plant grow exactly the way annual geraniums grow. I thought the dianthus which I planted this summer was an annual, but they are still as green as other perennials, so I let them be. It will be very cool if they come back next spring.  I am sure the four o'clocks did a good job of seeding themselves, and that I will see them again next spring.

The building inspector from the city was out this morning to measure our deck. I am sure that means that our taxes will increase. The deck and the new flooring sure increased our home insurance.

My goal between now and Christmas is to get a handle on some of my long in the works sewing projects, and to make a substantial dent in my rosary bead supply. It just requires some discipline to not make any new purchases until the old purchases are used up. Not only will it help to de-junk the house, but it will also feel good to know that I have exercised good stewardship over our household income.