The Price

This is the third and last of my trilogy about strange and unusual purses. I do want to thank my wonderful male followers for being so patient with me, and I promise that this is the last of the purses! Take a close look at these, what do you think they are made of? These purses are made from folded up cookie and candy wrappers! They reside in the gift shop of a museum that we visited. I love shopping for purses the way most women like shopping for shoes, so I sure wanted one of these. But they were quite expensive. I think some were around $100.00 or more. I wasn't willing to pay the price. But they reminded me of grade school. Are you old enough to remember when kids folded gum wrappers in long chains to make necklaces and bracelets? We chewed only to get the wrappers. I sure would have saved some of them if I knew how much money this kind of thing could fetch, who knew? We ourselves are the most costly things that exist, because we were bought at the higest price of all.

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have recieved from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price." 1 Cor. 6:21

Preparing A Place

On my last post I showed you a purse that was disguised as something else. Today I will show you just the opposite, something that is disguised as a purse. Take a good look at these purses. Can you tell what they really are? Maybe I should say what they really were. These were all made from regular, common placemats. My daughter-in-law made them and sold them for awhile. She had so many requests that she could barely keep up with the business. They are easy to make. You just pick out a pretty placemat and sew up the sides. Pick a matching ribbon and sew it on for the handles. More adventurous sewers can add pockets or trim. Viola, not a placemat anymore. But don't worry, we will still have a place.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. " John 14:1,3

Where Is Your Heart?

Now for the answer to yesterday's post about my bejewled items. They are purses designed by Judith Leiber. Many of her purses have been carried by first ladies on inauguration day, and several museums display them. These particular purses are at the Taubman Museum Of Art in Richmond, Virginia. The first picture is part of the museum from the outside front. And the next picture is the display they have specially made for these purses. It takes up one whole room. Each purse sits under it's own protective glass bubble, making it very hard for me to get good pictures. So many of you guessed it that there's really no need to list you. I cannot resist using the bible quote that my friend from MELANGE sent me about this post. I don't think these little purses would store very much, though. Maybe a lipstick, some cash and a driver's liscense would be all. Not being very practical, they are really all about sparkle, shine, and show. Nothing wrong with that once in a while. As long as one of the things in that purse is not your heart.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6: 19,21

Bedazzlers

What can these bejeweled things be?

There's more to them than you can see.

They look so pretty on a shelf.

But they were meant for something else.

What's their real use? Give me a guess.

On my next post I will confess.

Just Dropping In

Can you tell what this is, or does it look like some modernistic artwork? It rained here tonight, and as I sat in the front seat of the car, I took these these pictures of the raindrops on the windshield. If you look closely, you will see that they are not really drops at all, but have five sides and even a nucleus in the center. The pictures are black and white because it was night, but there was just enough light from the parking lot to see. Amazing how a light in the darkness can transform things.

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2

Shine On, Harvest moon

There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls - George Carlin

My intrepid canine buddy Remington alerted me to the fact that there was a full Harvest Moon the other night. I missed it, but took some pictures of it the next night. It is called the Harvest Moon because this month there is the least amount of time between the setting sun and the rising moon, giving farmers of times past some extra light to do their harvest with. I think last night was one of those nights when the moon howled.

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor." Psalm 8:3,5

Portrait Of A Geezer

Quite a few of you wanted to see which cane I picked out. There were only two designs in the type of cane that I needed, so I had to get these black and silver cats. I didn't show it yesterday because I'm thinking of exchanging it for one that is sturdier, but that one is ugly black! Any suggestions as to how I can jazz it up without breaking out the spray paint?

Continuing my post from yesterday about the purchase of a cane. When little Ella came over today, she was overjoyed to see the cane, and couldn't keep her hands off it. Well, at least someone was glad to see it. When I told her that I needed the cane because my knee hurt, she said that what I really needed was a stuffed animal, not a cane. Then she proceded to tell me that her great-grandfather had a cane. She said that this was because he was very, very old. And then she struck this pose with the cane to show me how great-grandfather looked in his old age with his cane. Gads!!! Along with the laugh, I felt a shiver as I wondered if this grim smirk was my future as I now hobble along through life. Does she think that all old people look like this? Has she seen no joyful seniors? Something for me to be mindful of, for sure. I need to prove her wrong.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4

Raising Cane

Today was a rather unsettling day for me. It was the day that I literally raised cane. Ever since I fell and my knee got worse, I am very unsteady when rising from sitting. My first few steps have me swaying to get my balance as the knee adjusts, cracks, and throbs. Something to lean on till I get my footing would help...so... We went to the home health store and I bought a cane. Not to use while out or anything, just to steady myself upon arising...for now, anyway. As you can see, the choices were good. Cat canes, dog canes, hummingbird canes, fall leaves, etc. The ones in the cases are collapsable canes, yikes! I thought the whole point was not to collapse! I wanted something that sparkled and shone, maybe with glitter, something that announced that I'm not really a geezer and I don't really need this thing, just being cautious!! My best friend told me a story that bothered me. She is a cancer survivor, weighs barely 100 pounds, and has side effects from chemo in her feet. She recently got a cane. Kind of like me, not that she really NEEDED it, but to be cautious! Well, I guess we all say that. Anyway, she told me that it was amazing how differently people treat her when she has her cane! They go out of their way to be kind and will do anything for her. She likes it using it now, and recommended it to me. I found it rather sad that you need a cane before people will even treat you decently or be kind to you. In fact, I found the whole day to be rather sad, so no one better mess with me, I'm wielding a cane!! Watch out, world!

"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong. But always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." 1 thess. 5:15

Up, Up And Away

The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon

It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon

We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky

For we can fly, we can fly

Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon

Come along with me and my family to the hot air balloon festival, and sit with my granddaughter and me as we watch. I promise that you'll be uplifted. You see, I've put the summer in these balloons, and now we will watch it fly away together. The breathless excitement, the color, the children running in fields, the smell of fresh cut grass, tall icy glasses of lemonade, all flying away for another year. But this is a very good flight, because we are here to see it, and to feel and smell the beauty of fall, and perhaps even dance in the leaves and drink hot cider. And because no matter where we may fly away to, we will always be found and loved.

If to heaven's heights I fly

you are still beside me

Or in death's dark shadows lie

you will stay close by me

If I flee on morning wings

far across the grey sea

even there your hand will lead

Your right hand will guide me.

What Lies Beneath

Ever wondered why leaves turn such beautiful colors in the fall? In nature, there usually needs to be some benefit to the tree, and not just for our viewing pleasure. The latest thought is that the leaves don't really change color at all. The bright fall color that you see was always there, lurking in the background. It is only when the green from the chlorophyll disappears that you see the red, orange, or yellow underneath. Last fall, I found these leaves in different stages of turning, all from the same tree. Is it actually changing, or just revealing the red underneath as the green disappears? Hard to tell, isn't it? So now we know how, but why? Aphids. In the fall, aphids look for twigs to lay their eggs on, where they spend the winter, then feed on the tree and damage it in the spring. But these bugs don't like red, because the leaf fluid has a lower nutrient content. So the colorful leaves are telling these bugs to back off and go elsewhere. Scientists have not yet figured out why some leaves turn orange or yellow instead of red, but I love a good mystery, don't you? By the way, happy Fall!! This is the first day of Fall, though it doesn't start till after 11 p.m., so we will get less than an hour of it today.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out it's roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:8

Perfect Gifts

Today is the second half of my story about the African village and the Nigerians in their ceremonial outfits. I went into the gift shop to look around and saw these sweet little wooden angels that turn around when you put a candle by them. I didn't buy them, but here's what I did buy. This basket that was made in Africa. I took a picture of it beside my chair to show you how huge it is. I love the fall colors. The baskets made there at the Culture Museum were over quadruple the price of the ones made in Africa, I was shocked at the price difference. This basket was so inexpensive that I couldn't believe my eyes!! They also had these bracelets in so many pretty colors, barely $5.00 each. I got these two. They are made in Africa, as well. But see what is special about them? Each bead is a piece of paper that is tightly rolled up, then laquered. Many Nigerians were shopping. I wonder if they were spending big bucks to buy things made in Virginia, while we were paying almost nothing for their African things? I wonder how that made them feel? You might say that these are the perfect gifts to remember our special day, and you know where every perfect gift comes from, don't you?

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of the truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." James 1:17,18

Africa

We live very near The Frontier Culture Museum. This is a huge place that has exact replicas of farms from different countries and different time periods. They have costumed actors and re-enactments of how diffrerent cultures lived from the land. Yesterday, we happened to be passing by, and I saw these people in their wonderful, traditional ceremonial costumes. The museum was having the dedication ceremony of it's new South African farm. Nigeria donated quite a bit of money and partnered with them for the building and upkeep of the farm replica. When I got there, the ceremony was over and the participants were all mingling in front of the gift shop, waiting for their bus to leave. They were so lovely to talk with, and gladly let me snap them. Many had come here from Nigeria just for this day. One thing that kind of surprised me was that most had cell phones or blackberries. One lady let me snap her, but wouldn't put her cell phone down to smile! The technology seemed so out of place with the beautiful native outfits. It was probably in the 90's, and I can't imagine how hot they must have been, especially in the big headdresses. But they were laughing, and no one seemed to mind! I wandered around the small gift shop for a bit, that is another story for tomorrow's post. Of course I had to buy something to remember this special day, and wait till you see what I got! This was a day that Phil and I are not likely to forget.

"See how the farmer waits for the land to yield it's valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. " James 5:7

First Signs

In the past week, I have been seeing the first signs of Fall. Perhaps you would like to see, too. A chill is in the air of an evening, and hay mazes are turning up alongside the roads. Soon, we'll be turning the heat up, wearing sweaters, and having soups and stews for dinner. I'm glad to live in a place where we experience all four seasons.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:9