This and That

I found a new typewriter to add to my collection.

I  figured I wanted to acquire approximately three really nice ones, and then I'll stop...

unless...

of course...

one comes along that blows my mind.

Enter my new Remington.

She was picked up yesterday by moi at my fav local antique mart.

It was love at first sight.

And they always give me great discounts because I'm a frequent shopper and

the shop clerks are old school Catholics, which I relate to very much.

So now my Corona has a playmate.

On another note,

...the newest issue of Country Living is out.

The turquoise tables gracing the cover immediately made me think of these cuties...

...that I salvaged, refurbished, and sold last fall.

Turquoise is still HOT! 

Good thing, because I still have a gallon of it in Ben Moore,

and you all know how much Ben Moore costs.

Sharing with:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm



The Lion and the Lamb

Happy Easter to All!

Let us all revel in the miracles of God.

Today, I'd like to tell you a love story about my friend, "K."

For K, March came roaring in like a lion.

K was just diagnosed with a rare, aggressive ovarian cancer, at age 19.

The stakes are high.

She is a stunning girl, a former student and recent graduate of mine.  She had been my student for four years and is one of the most dynamic artists I have ever been privileged to have in my classroom.  K is a gifted painter, a very hard worker, a dedicated artist, and an utterly good person. 

Everyday, she inspired the younger students to work harder,

to challenge themselves as she challenged herself.

I know this, because they have told me.

She has been confronted with a beast of a disease.

She is truly a tender lamb

who knows the difference between right and wrong.

She is a young, courageous woman.

She has recently selflessly cut off her own hair to donate to others.

She wanted to do it on her own terms.

We are all asking God to be her lion right now.

To be her champion.

The battle is His.

Her tumor has been completely removed

 and she begins further treatment next week.

K, I am praying for your full recovery.

 

You are in my heart daily.

I love you!

I have loved you since I met you as a freshman

and understood your creative hunger.

I love you more now for the person you have grown into and become

over the last five years.

 

Me & K (before she donated her hair).

May we all have courage and faith in life's trials.

Peace to you all, this week.  Jesus has risen

and He taught us to trust!

 

 

Sharing this young girl's courage with:

 

A Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson

 

Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence

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It is the night of the Last Supper.

The road to tomorrow is dark and fearful.

Let us all remember and carry the cross in our hearts.

Braiding Your Sunday Palms: A Tutorial

Every year on Palm Sunday, I braid our palms from mass in a traditional Polish braid.

Here are our freshly braided palms from this morning.

Today, I will show you how to braid your palms.

You must do them soon, before they start to dry out.

A dry and brittle palm cannot be braided.

I braided these in the car this morning after mass.

The penny is there so you can understand the scale of the braid.

Larger braids can be more uncontollable.

It is much easier to split your palms into more narrow pieces before beginning.

This will make your braid easier to manage, especailly for a beginner.

Step 1:

Take your palm and split it into two pieces.  Try to make sure they are about the same size.

Step 2:

Make each palm into a loop (near the bottom of the flatter edge).

Let the top tapered edges be free for now.

Step 3:

Insert one loop into the other.

Hold securely.

Everyone still on board?

This is where it gets tricky.

Step 4:

Take the one end and loop it.

Insert THAT loop BACK INTO the other one.

Step 5:

Hold securely as you go or it will all pop open.

Get ready to tuch and insert another loop.

Step 6:

Tuck the loop in.

Step 7:

The braid is getting established now.

Keep holding securely and tuck again.

Step 8: Con't progress...

Keep making a loop and tucking it into the other loop.

Photos on continued progress...

Hold tightly as you go...

Here's a snapshot of what you should have so far.

Your braid should be growing...

Step 9:

When you're getting ready to end it,

insert the TIP of one end into the loop and PULL.

Step 10:

Crease that little part you just pulled so it's secure and will no longer unravel.

Now, what do we do with these bottom ends?

Step 11:

Tuck one end in.

Step 12:

Pinch and crease that bottom corner so that piece does not pop out.

Step 13:

Tuck the last end behind a woven one and insert.

Step 14:

Pinch and crease those last rounded loops so they don't unravel.

When you flip it over, you now have a beautiful woven palm.

Display your palms all year as a reminder of your King of Glory.

Sharing with:

Sunday Best at My 1929 Charmer

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Bunny Blog Hop (April 2nd)  At the Picket Fence