It's a Rooster Party...I am a Little Late

I woke this morning to the rooster crowing (well not literally) only to discover I had no internet connection. Aghhh! Now what? Well a morning cup of coffee in my opinion can solve just about anything. Or at least help you start thinking straight. Can you relate? After I got the brain in full functioning order I thought I would try again. Nothing. I waited and waited and tried and tried. Still nothing. By now I am getting perturbed. Do I call the internet service people and wait for what would feel like an eternity? I thought I had better not call, because by now I am running out of patience and I really didn’t feel like being nice to these people because this has been happening on a regular basis lately.

Later in the day, WHA-LA, I am reconnected and I can finally participate in the rooster party but by this time I need to leave for my hair appointment. Oh brother, am I ever going to participate in the rooster party? Well, yes I am. I have been bursting at the seams to share this handsome devil with you. He has always had a place of honor in my kitchen.


He really is a handsome devil. My husband and I were junking one day and he was helping me find the second half to something. I can't even remember what it was now, maybe a candleholder. As he was bent over in the biggest box I have ever seen, he said he couldn't find what I was looking for but he said he found a rooster. I thought a rooster? What do I want with a rooster. As he came out of the box with the rooster he said he had never seen my eyes get so big. Oh my. He was gorgeous. Now the big question, how much? He said $20.00. What? It can't be. I read the tag, yep, $20.00! By now I know people were eyeing this rooster. Maybe it was because I couldn't hide my excitement. I thought I have to get out of here now with this rooster because I felt if I even waivered for a moment someone was going to snatch him. No way!



Here he is on my dining room sideboard.

Thank you for visiting. Please click on the rooster icon and visit the other ladies that have participated in the rooster party.

xxoo, ~Sue

I Miss the Whimsy

I don't know about you, but when Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion stopped publication it made me very sad. When I pulled this perky publication from the mailbox everything else ceased to exist for at least an hour. God forbid dinner was cooking (just kidding). The colors alone were enough to pull anyone out of grumpy mood. Well, we have Mary back. No it's not her magazine but she is now blogging. Yipeeeeeeee! It's time for a happy dance. Or should I say a coloful and whimsical happy dance.

I have collected ME fabrics for a long time. I have made many of my tote bags from her fabrics and those are always the first ones to sell at my craft shows.

Mary's Blog

xxoo ~Sue

The Power of Forgiveness

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

I read something the other day and it said, “If God didn’t forgive, heaven would be empty.”

It made me think about the power of forgiveness. I believe if we cannot completely forgive we cannot have a full life. We cannot move on until we have forgiven. Forgiveness heals and allows us to grow. It removes our mental and physical pain.

Forgiveness is freedom. Unforgiveness is destruction.

All of us have had the misfortune of being hurt, but if we remain resentful and don’t forgive, it will become a burden on our hearts and bodies. With each passing day it gets heavier until it is carried into our physical bodies. For some, the result is health problems.

I carried with me a hurt for a very long time. It eventually became a burden. Call it stubbornness, call it the ego but in my mind if I offered up forgiveness then somehow I was saying that it was O.K. that you hurt me. We don’t forgive others for their benefit, we forgive others for our own well being. Each time we forgive, a burden is lifted and the heart is opened.

One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before you go to bed. - Bernard Baruch

Love Sue

Grandma Gets Busted!

I am taking a vacation week from work (the one that pays the mortgage) because our granddaughter, Miss J is staying with her grandma and grandpa. We don’t get to visit very often. They live about 200 miles away and Mom and Dad work weekends so it really makes it challenging and the fact it is 200 miles one-way, it is difficult to make it a day trip.

Here in Sacramento, it has been our great fortune to be hosting the Library of Congress Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition at our downtown museum. Our city will be the only stop on the west coast. I wanted to start our week together by going to the exhibit. Now I really thought I was going to get a lot of resistance from this 9 year old little girl, but to my surprise and delight when I told her about the exhibit she said, “Grandma that would be so cool.” Now mind you, she is a 9 year old, Barbie loving little girl but she likes history (yeah). So with quarters in one hand for that pesky parking meter and my camera in the other we headed off for the exhibit. As we wandered the exhibit we were so taken with all of Mr. Lincoln’s artifacts and actual writings. I knew that Mr. Lincoln’s Bible was also on display and we eventually came across it. That is when my camera came out. I snapped the picture knowing that I was going to treasure it. I am not sure why I was wasn’t going crazy taking pictures sooner but I am soooo glad I didn’t because I wouldn’t have gotten the picture of Mary Lincoln’s jewelry either. As soon as I snapped that picture, Grandma was BUSTED! A security guard said there was no picture taking allowed. I said I was very sorry as I quickly put my camera away. Honestly there were no notices posted because I was looking for them. He was very nice about it but I kept thinking he was going to make me delete my two pictures. That didn’t happen because he quickly headed to the other room because, you guessed it… someone else was taking pictures. Whew!

Anyway, it was a fascinating exhibit and I want to go again because there was so much to see and absorb.


This Bible is so beautiful. The color is so rich. You can double-click on the pictures to enlarge.



Mrs. Lincoln enjoyed spending money and she spared no expenses for which she was ridiculed. Because of the war, times were hard for many and people thought it was not right to spend so lavishly while so many were suffering.

My little Miss J thoroughly enjoyed the exhibit. So far our week has been a trip to the zoo, baking cupcakes, watching movies and games of Monopoly. The little stinker is ruthless. She wants those hotels! Who knew!


Our Little Miss J. We were at the zoo in a little excursion train.

Hugs and blessings to everyone.
Susan

Taking a Little Break

Hi all. I have been a little brain dead lately and don't have a lot to post. All is very well with me though. In my spare time I have been in the sewing room making all my lovely handbags, preparing for several craft shows this year. It is getting to be that time of year.

I am still visiting all my blog friends regularly. I wouldn't miss any of your posts for the world. You all inspire me and many give me some of the best laughs.
Hugs to all of you!
Susan

Happy Red, White and Blue 4th!

I just recently learned (well in the last 3 years anyway) that close friends and colleagues John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the same day, on July 4th. It was the same year our great nation was celebrating its 50th birthday, in part because of these two gentlemen.

Happy 4th of July and of course Happy Birthday America!

xxoo, Susan

Our Vacation and Anniversay

Hawaii is a tropical paradise. What we love most about it though is the people and the culture. The people are unpretentious and gentle. When you step off the plane you immediately sense the peacefulness that is within the islands and the gentleness of its people. Hawaii is steeped in many legends. One legend is that rain and rainbows are considered blessings from the gods. And let me tell you there can be rainbows for a good part of the day. If it rains during a wedding they consider this to be a blessing. There is something magical about a rainbow in Hawaii.

The language is interesting. It is comprised of only 5 vowels and 8 consonants. It is a tricky language but a lot of fun and sometimes exhausting (in a good way though) trying to pronounce some of the words. Although I have to say I think I have it down pretty good. We all know the word “Aloha” means hello and good-bye but did you know that it also means sympathy, kindness, compassion, affection and fondness. The Hawaiians consider this to be the basis of their core values.

We love Hawaii and its people. It is unforgettable.

Yes indeed, these are some relaxed, happy feet. I will be the first to admit I would much rather be comfortable then try and make a fashion statement with my shoes.

Paradise Pink!

This was certainly the cutest and pinkest cafe on the Island.

This was in the old whaling town of Lahaina.

This was at the Maui Tropical Garden Plantation So beautiful.
The island is this beautiful.

The hibiscus grows in hedges on the island.
This is called a Jade Flower.
They only bloom for a short time. I felt very fortunate that I was able to capture a photo.
I could not get over the color. Such a beautiful blue-green color.



We took a boat ride out towards the little island of Lanai specifically to see the Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins. This was our greeting and in no time we were surrounded by pods of these beautiful creatures. There was something very magical about them. Click on the picture to enlarge.


And then there are the Maui sunsets. I probably have 50 pictures of the Maui sunsets. I cannot get enough of them.
Words cannot describe.



Our Luau sunset.
Happy 20th anniversay to us!
xxoo, Susan