November Thankful Posts

I'm such a horrible blogger. I only journal on mission trips and I don't know why I thought I'd be good at keeping up with a blog. They say that doing something for 21 days instills a habit and with that in mind I'm going to use this month's holiday to force myself to write once a day.

I've already missed day one. But that is ok. 

I'm thankful for family. My sister is one of the most important people in my life. I love her dearly and we don't get to spend a lot of time together because of work schedules and life styles. We are both busy women and we like it that way. But it does prevent us from getting together often.

Two weeks ago, sister decided to add to our family and she got married. Welcome Jay to the family! This is a picture of us on their wedding day. I won't post other pictures without their permission but I'm very happy for them.

After the wedding, I was able to visit with another sweet family member and her family. I love my cousin Sandi and just don't get to spend enough time with her and her sweet mom and daughter.

Many of our family members are spread far and wide. Closest blood relatives (mom did love genealogy) are in Indiana and one may be moving back to the Nashville area. But again, busy schedules keep us from seeing one another.

That is one reason I like technology. We can communicate without breaking the bank.  Tomorrow I'll post again. I already have a topic in mind!

Have a blessed day,

Tracy

Fall Break

This week is a week of rest! I'm planning on stitching and reading. I've loaded my iPad with lots of ebooks from the library. I have plenty to stitch and way too many things started. None are in the near finish stage but I am picking up me needle and hopefully making progress.

My stitching companion is waiting.

Welcome Fall Break

I realize no one is ready my blog, but that is ok! I don't have but a few sweet followers and friends who check the blog out when I post to Facebook.

I'm am welcoming a break in the school calendar. The students and faculties are so ready! This year feels stressful for many of my educator friends in Tennessee. The new evaluation system seems to have so many stressed and ready to give up on educating our future. I hope they can work their way through this latest attack on our profession.

I'm planning on spending my break quilting, stitching and doing needlework on my sweet friend Keisha's bridal veil.  She is getting married next weekend and I'm so excited for her and her fiance. I don't know how my friend Cindy (her mom) has made it through this year, all four children have added spouses!

I've also jumped off the deep end in a new area of my life. I've become a Scentsy consultant. I have a long background in retail and I love sales. I saw the warmer on Plumstreet Samplers and knew it was something I'd love to have in my home. I had my first party this week!  Big shout out to my friend Leigh who hosted for me. We had a lot of fun and sniffed a lot of fragrances. If you want to try it out, check out my Scentsy page.

Last, please pray for my worship leader Jimmy and his sweet wife Kim. They are expecting little Ruthie in the next few days and we are asking God to work miracles in Ruthie's life. She has a health issue and as a result is being born at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. God has worked major miracles in her life already and we know He has more planned!

In His hands,

Tracy

Timely Posts

I realize the reason I haven't started a blog before this summer is that I don't have much to say. Some friends would disagree with that statement. :) I read a lot of blogs and follow them daily. But I'm just not as wordy or eloquent. Thus, only weekly posts here so far.

Saturday, I had the privilege of attending a Living Proof Simulcast. It was an awesome day of worship and study. We delved into a character study of Luke; who he was and how he came to be one of Christ's followers and a major contributor to the New Testament. I really enjoyed the study and it reminded me of vintage Beth Moore studies. Really felt drenched in the Holy Spirit.

Last night, I was noticing a light out of my blinds and realized it was the moon. So I drug my tripod outside and set it up. I didn't take any outstanding pictures, but I do have one to share.

 

I love the fact that I'm still learning to take my camera off program mode and use it in manual. This has been a major accomplishment for me. But I'm still learning the ins and outs of settings. I couldn't get the white balance right on the roses. The color is really blown out. I was really just playing with learning the depth of field on the lens I was using (50 mm prime 1:1.8) and didn't stress the color balance.

I am a horrible yard owner. I've let the weeds grow around my knock out roses. I really need to get outside and clip them away.

You can ALSO tell I'm a horrible yard owner by the fact that the second picture is of poke berries.  I've had many poke plants come up in the fence row flowers. I got tired of pulling them up and now I'm kind of glad I didn't pull up the last batch, the pink stems are gorgeous.

I also have had a rogue tomato plant grow right outside the porch. I pulled one up in the mulch by the front door and really thought to myself that I was nuts and there was no way I had a tomato plant growing in the mulch. But my yard laziness proved me sane. There are lots of little tomatoes on the plant I didn't pull up. I doubt they will develop enough to be eaten before the first frost. But I have gotten a good laugh at myself and God's humor. I had wanted to plant containers of tomatoes on the porch this spring and never got around to it. So He's making sure I get some tomatoes despite myself.

Be Blessed

Tracy

A little stitching

I actually found a little odd time to squeeze in stitching. I started Lizzie Kate's Big Girl Panties. I love this saying and this design!

Saturday Stitching

I've finally had a stitching finish! I think this may be my first and only finish of the year!  How sad am I?

The design is by 4 My Boys and it was a freebie. I radically changed all the colors and I'm going to make a pillow out of  it. I wish I knew how to do cute flat folds. But finishing is my downfall.

I plan on framing this little piece, it is by Lizzie Kate and I stitched it one over one. I've had it finished and waiting for the framing fairy to come and put it together. I think she lost my address, so I've dug and found the frame, glass and pins and I'm ready to put it together.

I must say that the white balance on my camera and I had loud arguments today. The camera won and I did a little photo editing and the colors are still not vibrant. But I can live with them.

Happy Saturday!

Tracy

Quick check in

Just doing a quick post. I hope to post some pictures of a new finish tomorrow. Light isn't right to take photos tonight.

I am very thankful for a three day weekend. This school year is going really well. But because of changes in our teacher evaluation system it seems as though a lot of my coworkers are really stressed. I've been to several TEA regional meetings and the feeling seems to stretch across Tennesse.

On a happy note, Carmen and I spent some time at a couple of Nashville art exhibits and I took a few pictures. But I can't seem o get them uploaded. :(. Why do I keep having blogging issues?