Pots on the Porch

Geranium




Shamrock


Leave a comment to enter book giveaway!

Grace Livingston Hill Book Giveaway

Have you discovered the books of Grace Livingston Hill? They're set in the 1st half of the 20th century mostly, though a few of her early ones are in the late 19th. They are labeled as romances, but are so much more.

When an adolescent and young adult, I wouldn't read romances. I was too busy being educated.
Well, when I got as educated as I'm going to be, I discovered GLH. Mother and Sister had read them years before, but I didn't pick up romances. What a lot of restful and inspiring fiction I missed. Reading them has helped me understand Mother a little better. She was just a natural GLH heroine.

So, a few years ago, I began collecting GLH books at used book stores. She's out of print, now.

I still love her books, because they are so full of the gospel, but now I usually listen to books on tape, so that I can knit or crochet at the same time. Some people seem to read books and knit at the same time. I can crochet a grannie square and read simultaneously, but that's it.

So I have a shelf of GLH books not being used. I picked out seven of them in better condition, and will give them away to seven people who leave a comment on my blog about the blog or the etsy shop.

I have to admit that GLH wrote from the WASP perspective and what minorities appear are servants. That's embarrassing.

Three of the books are Bantam editions, and four are from Tyndale House. Two of the latter are marked "Free Copy Not to be sold" but I did purchase them at the used book store.

So leave a comment and I'll randomly pick names (or email addresses) out of a hat. The winners will be notified, asked if I may publish their names, and for a place to mail the books(at my expense of course. This is a giveaway.)

The contest will run until 12 m (CDT) June 14th, 2008.

Political Comment

It strikes me that the three major candidates each have someone who may be negatively affecting their campaign. In alphabetical order,

Clinton has Bill

McCain has Bush

Obama has Rev Wright


I rather liked something Huckabee said. It was to the effect that Jesus had the good sense not to run for public office.

More 2008 knitting

Places I go on the web

The President of Mustard Seed Cultural and Environmental Services is Timberlyn Smith, a very good friend with whom I taught labs at UMKC. See link at right.

PetronellaFashion.etsy.com

bevie.etsy.com

See links at right for the following sites.


The Sartoralist Sometimes he's just kidding, and, interestingly, he's photographed one person in recent months who wasn't anorexic.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day. The heavens declare His glory.

Gospel for Asia sends native missionaries all over. Check out the news on that site for heartwarming and heart-wrenching stories of the Christians in Asia. There are prayer requests.
This is what's really happening in the world.

Warm Woolies is a wonderful organization with a great web site. The Founder is a real women who does good things. There's a contest this year.


WQXR is our currently favorite radio station. We listen to it almost 24/7.


I always go first to Knitting Underway. You probably already know her. Who wouldn't love a Navy Doctor who knits? And a newly-wed?

Yarnstorm is such a beautiful blog.(on vacation this summer)

Japonisme also has beautiful photos.

I go to Moonstitches to see photos of the Japan I know and love.

I go to From japan with love to be reminded of what it's like to be a gaijin(foreigner).

Actually, walking around the midwest in the USA, in front of a blind man and a guide dog, is a lot like being gaijin. A lot of people look at you and some percentage are uncomfortable or don't know how to react. Some are intrusively friendly. Happily, most people ignore you.

Guidedogs for the Blind is the best school of its kind. The dogs are very well trained and it's all free for the blind person. They also take international students.

Some 2008 knitting

Gratitude 2

First, I apologize for any mistakes in adding urls. I'm still editing.

I want to thank Cousin, who has been so supportive, and a voice of reason.

Thank you, Sister, for taking care of me since I was born.

Gratitude is due Nephew for patiently answering my technical questions (and sending me to the public library!)

Thank you, Knitting Teacher, who offered free lessons at St. John Lutheran.

The Comfort Making Team at St John have been so very nice and generous.

I have an absolute debt of gratitude to several others in my mind, but I'm saving you for later posts.

Meanwhile, above and below are photos of knitting in 2008.

Photos

Here are the love of my life and the cat of my life.

He's Mr P and she's Whitney. God gave them to me to love.

Gratitude

First I am grateful to my Lord Jesus Christ. The only righteousness I have is His.

I also thank my friend Betty, who, even though a self-styled agnostic, (really?) is a good friend. We taught together in Japan, at Kobe University in Akashi. She encouraged me a lot regarding P and P Homemades. She said that I shouldn't "beat people over the head" with Jesus. Maybe I "beat" her with Jesus? Well, here I am, mentioning Jesus. She suggested I write about my "spiritual journey". I told her that a large part of that journey toward starting this blog was because of a very good friend who, even though an agnostic, kept complimenting my work and creativity. I thank Betty for her encouragement, even though she's an agnostic. (She suggested I make a funny reference to her agnosticism,)

I really appreciate the three major women in my life, Grannie, Mother, and Auntie. They loved me and nurtured me, and among other things, taught me the value of making things at home. Mostly they loved and had integrity. Would that I could be more like them.

More gratitude tomorrow. Also photos of Mr. P, the love of my life, and Whitney, the cat of my life.

P and P Homemades

Blog coming soon