On the Threshold

Recently I saw beautifully wintery Mt. Hood as I was looking toward Spring Water Trail  High School in Gresham, OR.

Then later in the week I admired Mt. Hood standing out against the backdrop of wintery blue-gray clouds as I looked from a vantage point on Civic Drive in Gresham, OR.

As we drive in and out of our driveway we often see Mr. and Mrs. Mallard on the front pond and are expecting them to be nesting and then hatching a new little family of ducklings this Spring as the frogs sing a louder and louder celebratory chorus in the evenings.

 Mr. Salamander visited and we supposed he was trying to stay warm near our threshold! We admired him but did not invite him in.

 Our latest puzzle, a Thomas Kinkade print was completed this week after even more puzzling effort than our last puzzle.

 My folding vision board is now trimmed in washi tape.

 I bought the washi tape last February around Valentine's Day.

 The dark red trim says "love" repeatedly.

 The red and white tape has repeated xo's for hugs and kisses.

 I'm still crocheting the edging on this knit preemie blanket...and enjoying doing so and have been knitting more rows on my blue merino blanket...glad for its warmth on my lap.

 I bought a branch on sale at a craft store and planted it in my hug basket to display some of the hearts I have made or have been made and given to me.  The white hearts with roses were made by my dear mom who is no longer physically with us on earth, but the crafts she made and the gifts she gave are precious reminders of her.

When I got up one morning recently the sky was a prettier pink than this photo shows. My photos don't always reveal the ups and downs of my life.  As I type this, my friend, my oldest SIL's mom who is part of our household is in surgery to repair a painful tear in a muscle.  We are praying for a swift and complete healing.  We are also thanking God that my great nephew in Nebraska is home from the hospital where he was treated for meningitis this past week.

Some of our family were encouraged as we read Psalm 30:1-12 together this morning..."weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning..."

May you know much joy in your life, no matter what life challenges cross the threshold of your life.

xx
Gracie

Collaging

 Since my last post, my good friend Teresa came to meet my newest granddaughter, Sarah, while my oldest sister, Carolyn was visiting from CA.  Teresa generously brought beautiful pink booties she crocheted for Sarah. Thank you again, Teresa.

 After a week's fast and fun visit, Carolyn left, and one afternoon I came home from running errands and found a box waiting for me from my good friend, Betsy.  She sent me this lovely blown glass teapot because she knew I would enjoy it and I am!  It is sitting on a wonderful doily that Betsy crocheted. Thank you again, Betsy.

 Last February my good friend, Fran, gave me these primroses which have persistently bloomed on our front porch through our months of drought, and weeks of rain and frost. I am perplexed...wondering how they can be so hardy in spite of my care or lack their of! Thank you again, Fran.

 Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are visiting our front pond and we have already started hearing a new froggy chorus from the pond, especially at night.

 This last weekend I had great fun attending our worship art group at church.  We worked on making vision boards/folders. I don't have a good spot for a vision board on my wall so I opted to make a folding version from file folders.  I really am enjoying collaging the surface of both sides...not quite finished yet.

 Then I think I am going to put the words walking with Jesus on the folder and make foot shaped pieces of solid colored paper with words like love pray enjoy patience mercy and glory as goal reminders.

 Sunday afternoon my youngest daughter, Elisabeth, took this photo of the radiant rainbow we saw while standing on our front porch.

 My oldest son who lives just outside of NYC sent this photo and the next to show us how much snow they got from the East Coast blizzard!

He, his family and neighbors got plenty of exercise, and thankfully one of the neighbors helped clear pathways with his snowblower.

 This morning I enjoyed watching the sunlight stream through our windows onto my collage of collections.

Looking at all that I surround myself with can you tell that I love the simplicity of Japanese art displayed on the backdrop of black and white shoji screens?

Hoping your week is a satisfying, creative collage!

Gracie xx

knit purl pray...creativity explored...

Weeks ago, I was sent an email from a representative of Worthy Publishing, asking if I would be interested in receiving then reading a copy of Lisa Bogart's book, "knit purl pray," then publish a review in my blog. I replied, "Yes!"  Interestingly, before I received my copy from Worthy Publishing, a friend sent me a copy of Lisa's book as a gift! I immediately started reading it and found an entry "Gifts to Share" that seemed perfect to read to the members of a new daytime knitting/crocheting group I was organizing to stitch blankets for babies who are admitted to a local NICU. This past week during our first meeting I read "Gifts to Share" to our new group, and the ladies agreed that it was a message that was perfect for us.

 As you can see from the subtitle of the book, it contains 52 Devotions for the Creative Soul.  While one could savor a devotion each week, I rapidly read each entry with writing this review in mind...before the end of October, since the book went on sale this month of October.  I am excited to see that after the last devotion there are four interesting knitting patterns to make as well!

Each entry begins with a quote from the Bible, and ends with a simple prayer.  While Lisa writes from her stance as a follower of Christ, her choice of words is not burdensome.  Instead, through timely examples Lisa invites the reader to consider how human creativity is linked to relationship with the loving Three in One,God: the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Using familiar knitting terms and creative scenarios, Lisa weaves faith through her words which evoked both laughter and tears from me.  In a fresh way I found myself viewing knitting and other creative pursuits as gifts from God that can be used to honor Him and help others.

Happily, I can recommend Lisa's book "knit purl pray" as one that both encourages readers to positively use their creativity while growing in positive relationship with God.

I received a copy of " knit purl pray" from Worthy Publishing this week and would love to offer it as a giveaway from my blog, One Saylor's Log, since my friend sent me a copy of the book, as well.  Just leave a comment saying you would like to have your name included in my drawing.  I will draw a winner on November 7, 2015, and be happy to send it to whoever wins.

Thank you Worthy Publishing for gifting me with a book I enjoyed and am delighted to recommend and share with others; and thank you Lisa for writing 'knit purl pray."

 Another creative pursuit I have followed this past week is ironing a huge leaf a family member brought home from their walk.

 Now we have two huge leaves ironed and stuck to our dinning room window!

 And since I last posted I got to attend a church worship art group and work on learning to form collages...mine are still too ridged and boxy but very fun to make!

And although we are barely into Autumn, I am amazed to see my two red blossomed Christmas cacti creating blooms :)

What creative plans do you have for the coming weekend?

xx
Gracie

Happiness in May:

two gorgeous blooms on my Christmas Cactus,

making a collage with friends,

knitting a dishcloth for a new friend,

seeing Mr. Mallard and some wild iris,

and Mama Duck with her ducklings,

and bright rhododendrons in bloom!

What is bringing you happiness this May?

Gracie xx