If you are a female fan of the University of Tennessee

Then leave me a message here. I have leftover fabric from the apron I made for the Gardener and I will send you your very own UT hairband. This type of fabric is licensed and as such is verboten to sell, but I will enjoy sending you a hairband for free if you want. Don't post your address in the response, just make sure I know how to contact you directly via email and I'll send you your very own hairband!

Obviously, this offer is good only until I run out of fabric. If there is a run on these things, I'll take the earliest requesters.

Enjoy.

Garish, thy name is apron. ;-)

The Gardener and The Gardener's Wife have been very gracious to me. They have supplied me with a large quantity of fabric and such, that I will put to good use. I have already had fun blessing Bunny Mama's mom, Bee Haven Maven, and Smoothiejuice with some of the loot.

For example, they gave me this wad of trims and lacy stuff that will work well on my vintage type aprons I sell at market.

The Gardener's Wife gave me a length of Tennessee Vols fabric and said, "could you make an apron for The Gardener?" Being The Gardener has a shrine to the Volunteers in his basement, including a framed piece of turf from Neyland Stadium and a large framed Phil Fulmer poster, it seemed appropriate.

Did I mention I think the color orange is eeeeeeeeew?

I thought about putting it on a denim background, but I had a length of orange mini-camo. Upon sharing the situation with hubs, he gave me his advice. "Go all out; go with the orange. A true fan would rather have it go over the top."

Hokay, I did just that. See for yourself. ;-)

Of course, miss Mandy wanted to be in the craft action shot. As usual.

Hope, no longer deferred?

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

All who rage against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;
those who oppose you
will be as nothing and perish.

Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing at all.

For I am the LORD, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you.

----

'You're my servant, serving on my side.
I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Count on it: Everyone who had it in for you
will end up out in the cold—
real losers.
Those who worked against you
will end up empty-handed—
nothing to show for their lives.
When you go out looking for your old adversaries
you won't find them—
Not a trace of your old enemies,
not even a memory.
That's right. Because I, your God,
have a firm grip on you and I'm not letting go.
I'm telling you, 'Don't panic.
I'm right here to help you.'


--from Isaiah 41 (NIV, and The Message)

Quote o' the day...

We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

--Sir Winston Churchill

Grateful

1. I feel better.

2. Hubs feels better. He didn't share in my pneumonia bliss, ;-) , but enjoyed asthmatic bronchitis instead. ;-)

3. Found some new cheap recipes, and unearthed some old ones. We all need to save money, so I'll add them here posthaste.

4. Working on a strip quilt. Fortunately for everyone, this has nothing to do with one's state of undress while making it. ;-)

5. Catching up on making product for market and various accounts. So grateful for the orders right now.

6. Merging with the other church has worked out fairly well. Other than concern for losing our identity (which I will fight tooth and nail), there's only one major problem. Well, that is a major problem, but surely I can trust God to take care of things, either fixing it or fixing me. ;-)

7. At least two of our cars still work.

8. More hope for ongoing provision in the last couple of weeks. We'll see where it all lands. It's quite the roller coaster at present. With the economy the way it is, you gotta do what you gotta do.

9. Feline therapy. I am a believer in my three pet therapists. They do a great job. Who needs Diovan when you have three lap kitties?

10. It is lonely, but I have been deliberate about reaching out to friends. It's funny how few of them are church related. But the fact remains: I know I have friends now, and they know I care for them in return. Actual relationships where I am not the one doing all the giving and encouraging! That's a good change.

11. Perspective. I have some more to say about that, but not till I take the photo I want to accompany the thought.

12. Lots more, I am sure. There are really stressful and difficult times upon us. More stress than probably ever before. But I do feel loved, and cared about, and blessed nonetheless.

'Think I'm going to cough up a lung about now...

...that might not be a bad thing. I've never had pneumonia before, so I just thought it was a cold. Grateful for good drugs and a warm place to sleep. :-) I sleep a couple of hours, wake up, sleep a few more, and repeat. Apparently, according to hubs, I cough WHILE I'm asleep. Had no idea I was that talented.