Glanalaw - delighting in pure song

Hello again!  I have a picture-heavy post today - I couldn't decide between them, so you get the lot!  Before you accuse me of false advertising, I promise you there  was  music in the park - but as it's impossible to photograph music, I haven't any pictures of it :) These photographs were all taken in the Kensington Metro Park, where my family and I went for a picnic and to enjoy the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's "concert in the park" this past Friday.  The weather was perfect - warm, but not stifling, just the tiniest whiffle of a breeze - and I could not resist taking photos of the lovely parklands! The lakes were so still - everything reflected in them!  Trees, clouds, road signs...  And the lighting was incredible.  Every new vista looked like it could be part of the setting for a rural, romantic film! Here is my dog, enjoying the attention of my father after our picnic but before the concert started.  There are advantages to a dog who is going blind and d...

These are TOO cute!  I don't link to too many things but I love these :)   If you want a chance to win it yourself, follow the link to Grosgrain's blog and link to it yourself :) Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I didn't think  our lake was infested by piranhas - but perhaps I'm mistaken? Let me explain.  My sister and I went swimming today, out to the raft/diving tower in the middle of the lake.  We like to hang out under the raft -- it's supported by air barrels around the edges, but the middle is clear, and is a good cool place out of the sun.  Well, we were there today, and all of a sudden something touched my shoulder.  I turned around, and there was a fish.  A little lake fish -- I couldn't tell you what kind -- no longer than my hand.  He showed no signs of fear, swimming around me once or twice. And then he bit my leg. I was - um - astonished.  It didn't hurt - his teeth aren't made for puncturing human flesh, apparently.  But that a little fish like that would try to bite me!  And not only once, either.  He followed me around for a while -- every so often our splashing would scare him off, but he was always back for another nibble -- my knuckle, my arm, even on...

I am so tired.  My legs, arms, and lower back ache.  I might have a sunburn.  I could just sleep for hours. But it's all in a good cause!  I have a job!!!!  I'm working in the garden of an old lady about a mile down the road, digging, weeding, doing all the heavy lifting.  Her garden is wonderful - occupying the whole of her back yard and a good portion of the front as well, she has orderly rows of irises - rows and rows and rows! - lines of day lilies, and a wonderful confusion of flowers, both annuals and perennials, in the middle.  She's been working on this garden for 30 years, she says; used to be she did all the work herself, but now she's getting older and can't handle bending and stooping, carrying heavy buckets and managing overflowing wheelbarrows.  So I have a job :) I enjoy it.  It's not easy work - it involves a lot of bending, and quite a bit of hot sun.  My hands are almost-but-not-quite blistered from the clippers I used for nearly an hour.  I th...

I'd appreciate if you'd pray for my grandmother (my dad's mother). A couple months ago she fell and needed hip surgery - she's been in hospital and rehab ever since. Mum told me tonight she's not doing well at all - she's not comfortable or happy in the rehab place, and so she's just not getting better.  Apparently my uncle called my dad to tell him this tonight. If you would, pray for several things: that Grandma would be able to be comfortable, and would recover physically. And that she would through this come to know Christ - neither she nor my grandfather are believers. I am so frightened that they will die without salvation.... my grandfather is not in good health either. My dad would also appreciate prayers for peace and wisdom; his parents are a good 11 hours from us, and he is trying to decide whether he needs to take leave of work to be with them.

This is the beginning of what I hope will be a long line of completed projects this summer!  I've made it my goal to work through both my stash and my (very  large)  collection of UFOs this summer.  Here is the first! I cut out this blouse last summer but never got around to making it.  The fabric is a mystery blend - probably cotton/poly? - from the remnants rack at JoAnn Fabrics.  I think there was just over a yard, maybe 1.5 yards.  I used Simplicity 4077 , altering the sleeves to be longer, fuller, and have a sleeve band. I decided to flat-fell the side and shoulder seams, as my fabric is quick to fray; this gave the seams some nice definition, and achieved my goal of avoiding fraying. I also added white rick-rack, which I found in my stash, to the collar and cuff edges -- I think it really pulls the blouse together!  The buttons - little white flowers - were also from the stash.  They were originally bought for a dress my mum made me for my cousin's wedding, back when I wa...

Since I've now found a camera cable (although not mine) which is compatible with my camera, I thought I'd share some photos! Here was my progress (a week ago) on the 1830s corded stays I'm working on.  Someone needs to explain to me why I decided to do these entirely by hand, because I certainly don't know!  I've made a lot more progress since then - the upper half of the left front/side is completed now. Irises decorating the "teacup shelf" in the dining room.  We've had a bumper crop of them this year - I filled the house with them for two weeks. This is just silly - David drew a face in the dry ingredients of corn bread, and I was amused so I took a photo. This is my first time trying to do photos on blogger, and while it's quite easy to upload them, I need to work out re-positioning!  Maybe it would be easier to upload all the photos first and put text in afterwards, instead of trying to juggle photos around existing text?

... that I have not in fact dropped off the face of the planet!   I would have photographs to share with you - of my little garden, of my corded stays progress, of my dear family - only I cannot find my camera cable and therefore cannot transfer them to my computer.  Perhaps one of these days. (Incidentally, can anyone answer for me WHY I thought it was a good idea to make a corded petticoat, even by machine?  Or 1830s corded stays, entirely by hand?  Didn't think so - I can't either.)

Sometimes there is nothing for it but a good quote from Shakespeare.  I can't help it -- this particular scene gets me every time.  Someday, someday, someone will say to me, as Benedick says: Benedick:  I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange? Beatrice:  As strange as the thing I know not.  It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you: but believe me not; and yet I lie not; I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing... Benedick:  By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me. Beatrice:  Do not swear, and eat it. Benedick: I will swear by it that you love me; and I will make him eat it that says I love not you. Beatrice:  Will you not eat your word? Benedick:  With no sauce that can be devised to it.  I protest I love thee. Beatrice:  Why, then, God forgive me! Benedick:  What offence, sweet Beatrice? Beatrice:  You have stayed me in a happy hour: I was about to protest I loved you. Benedick:  And do it with all thy heart. Beatrice:  I love you with...

You know how it's hard to find ready-made dresses that are actually modest, comfortable, and not too short?  Shabby Apple fits the bill.  Their dresses are utterly adorable, completely stylish, and - hey! - long enough and modest.  Grosgrain is doing a giveaway of one of their dresses, and it's just too cute.  Check out the giveaway at the link below, and be sure to check out Shabby Apple's website too.  It's worth it! Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Reposted from my old blog - this is the only one I'll do that with, promise! Much has happened since last I posted, but little of it is material for the public eye - sorry. Suffice it to say, this past semester has had both some of the best and worst moments of my entire life; times of great joy and peace, times of incredible pain and suffering. Through it all though God has been faithful, and it is evident to me that he's been using it all - the joy and the sorrow - to grow me in faith and trust. I can say with complete confidence that without prayer and without God's steadfastness I would not have made it through these times with any sort of emotional and mental wholeness. He is good. I'm home now for the summer, and have spent this week sleeping in (noon every day? yikes!), settling back into home life, reading YA fluff just because I can, and doing some gardening and sewing. I varnished the picnic table and made myself a blouse -- and filled out more job application...

Well!  I have for the past several years been blogging on livejournal - modestly and rather privately, as I believe I *may* have 3 readers!  In any case, from convenience, for more visibility, and simply because I know more people using blogger, I've decided to switch over.  I'll probably repost my latest blog from the old one, but from then on it'll be new, fresh material.   What do I blog, you ask?  Well, it varies!  Sometimes just a brief news update; sometimes a longer reflection on some issue or question that I've been wrestling with.  My favourites are probably the photo posts though: either a brand-new creation I can't resist sharing, or photos of my garden, or places I've been that were too gorgeous to keep to myself.  There should be a good variety, and I hope it is interesting! I'm excited for this new blog.  It's easier to navigate (and to remember to go to!) so I hope blogging will become more frequent and less boring for my readers ;)