Introducing you to - BANNERS

Some dear friends of ours have started a new venture. We wanted to help them spread their news.  Check them out.  Spread the news.  Have your organization order from them!!!

Threads of Crimson     March 31, 2010     Fabric art studio

Greetings,
We would like to introduce our new venture, Threads of Crimson Fabric Art Studio, specializing in beautiful and expressive banners for praise and worship.

Our banners are designed to enhance the worship of Jesus, drawing the worshiper into a deeper, fuller understanding of Him. Most of our banners can be found in churches, but banners are also great for parachurch organizations, schools, camps, offices, even homes.

We invite you to take a look at our banner gallery at the address below and see what you think—perhaps a banner is just what you’ve been looking for.

http://threadsofcrimson.wordpress.com/

We will also be exploring other forms and expressions of fabric art over time, including hangings with a pictorial, painterly quality and even three-dimensional sculpture. We will post these on our Word Press site as they are completed, so check back now and again. You might even want to subscribe to our site to keep track of what we’re up to. Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Elizabeth and Steven Banks

By the way, please feel free to pass this email on to others who might be interested.

threads.of.crimson@gmail.com

“It is always true that an encounter with God brings wonderment and awe!”
—A.W. Tozer

plain ole Vinegar to the rescue

   The cost to purchase a gallon jug of plain ole white vinegar, is minimal, indeed. And yet how helpful the ways in which that gallon jug can be, are, well, like the commercials for certain credit cards say - "PRICELESS!".
   I am sure that there are many more ways than these, but I am going to share a few ways in which I have found plain ole white vinegar to be of supreme help.
- - > I listed one way in the posting about making deviled eggs. It's part of the boiling the eggs process. If you don't remember it, or never saw it, you can find it HERE.
- - > Last week Laura, at 'Heavenly Homemaker', posted about using a combination of vinegar and baking soda to clear in-house drains. (I found her posting via her linking up to Tammy's 'Kitchen Tip Tuesday's' ). I have used that method for y-e-a-r-s and found it to be oh so helpful!!!!
- - > While vinegar itself has a strong oder (especially if you put your nose close to it, which I do not recommend you doing ...) , it never the less can help eliminate orders from other things.
    - - > One such way is in laundry. Set your washer to rinse and allow the cold water to briefly start filling the machine. Add about an eighth of a cup (1/8 cup) of white vinegar to the cold water. Allow the washer to fill about another inch high with cold water, and then start adding your 'stinky' load. Once you've added your 'stinky' load, allow the washer to finish filling with the cold water and run a complete rinse cycle.
   Examples of 'stinky' loads which I have encountered are: 
   - items out of sports gym bags. - bedding from bed wetters. - swimming suits wrapped in wet towels and left in the vehicle a couple of days. - clothing left on the floor that the cat decided to pee on. - a pile of dirty socks dug out from underneath a bed. - Etc.. I think you are probably getting the idea.
    Running such things through on a cold water rinse cycle which includes white vinegar, works wonderfully!!!!! Upon occasion, I have had to run the load another time or two. But even then, the cost of doing so is far less than what the cost to replace the items would have been!
   - - > Another way in which white vinegar works great at removing orders, is when there are 'strong/unpleasant odors' in a room of your home. Close any windows in the 'unpleasant smelling' room. You can use any glass/pyrex, etc. type wide topped bowl, or empty cool whip type containers. Pour about a cup or so of vinegar in the bowl. (If the room itself is a larger sized room, you might want to use two to three bowls, or even more, depending on the overall size of the room.) If your using only one bowl, place it in about the center of the room. (If your using multiple bowls, space them out around the room.) Leave the room, closing the door behind you, and wait. When you can go back into the room and the room smells like vinegar, you have accomplished your task. Go pour the vinegar down your kitchen sink, and open the windows in the room. It will only take about eight (8) minutes for the vinegar odor to disapate, leaving you with a odor free room.
     Now, if the 'strong/unpleasant oders' are in a room that you can not shut the door to, it will take longer to work, but it WILL still work.
    And if the oders are in a room that it is impossible to keep young children out of, then it's best to put the containers of vinegar up high (which also then takes longer for them to be fully effective), or plan on leaving the house for awhile.
    Examples of 'strong/unpleasant oders' in a room which I have encountered are:
    - after cooking fish. - after cooking cabbage. - after having carpet laid. - after painting a room. - after 'wrestle mania' has broken out amongst a bunch of high school age guys. - orders left from cigarrette smokers. - Etc. Again, I think you are probably getting the idea.

      I hope you too find investing in a gallon jug of good ole white vinegar, to be ever so benificial!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Make-Do Mondays", are hosted by Shari, at 'My Practically Perfect Life' (www.practically-perfect-life.blogspot.com).
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).

thoughts and smiles of Easter

                                                                      

    I have been pondering about what I wanted to write this year for Easter. While many of the things I had previously written came to mind, I wondered exactly what all I really had written. So I went looking. The very first posting we still have saved on our Xanga site, is from back in Nov. of '04. There had been postings before that, but at one point in time I didn't grasp the concept of the internet. I thought it worked like memory on your computer does, so I had deleted a whole bunch of postings not wanting to fill my xanga's memory and thus be unable to post anymore. Oh well.
   Anyways, I went looking for previous postings about Easter. The first Easter related thing I came across was from Monday, March 28, 2005. "Sat. night we told our waiter Happy Easter - his response was interesting - "I use to say that to everyone, but now that it's no longer "politically correct" I don't, but I will to you! :-}" WOW!! So much for freedom of religion - But I shall continue to say "Merry CHRISTmas" and "Happy Easter"!!! Praise the Lord that he loved (and loves) us enough that he gave us both!!!!!"  
  Seeings how I did my searching pretty much by looking through postings from the middle of March to the middle of April each year, it is possible I missed some. But that's okay. What I did find, did cover most of the subjects I was thinking about posting about. And some of the postings also brought great smiles to my face. I hope you enjoy them too!
Ash Wednesday:
~ On Feb. 27, 2007, there was one about 'Ash Wednesday', what all it's about, and a challenge to those whom participate in it.
The Lenton Season:
~ On March 16th, 2009, I posted some thoughts about the season of 'Lent'.
Easter traditions:
~ The first part of the posting, dated, April 19th, 2006, had to do with some history behind a couple of things associated with modern day Easter.
~ On Monday, March 25th, 2008, part of the posting was about us hiding Easter eggs for a friend :-} that was fun!! (that particular posting also included a couple different funny "Boo" tales)
~ The posting on Friday, April 3rd, 2009, was titled "Easter - part 1". It had to do with thinking about Easter Baskets.
~ April 7, 2009 I posted "Easter - part 3", which was about some stuff I had found about Easter baskets when googling.
~ On April 10, 2009 "Easter - part 4" was posted. It was all about getting dressed up for Easter.
~ March 5, 2007 - dressing up for Easter.
Holy Thursday:
~ March 21, 2008 - Holy Thursday
Easter itself:
~ The Monday, March 24, 2008 posting was about something that happened in our lives that gave me a whole new perspective on Easter. A son had been hit by a car ...
~ Then, April 5, 2009, was titled "Easter - part 2". It had to do with how I view Easter.
REJOICE  AND  CELEBRATE  THIS  EASTER !!!!!

last nights 'outing'

    Last night my dear friend Jewels (her real name is Julie E.) let me ride along with her to the church baby shower for my soon to be born great niece. I have always thought I was a pretty great aunt, so I have no problems being called a 'great aunt'. o:-)
    One of the games was to guess how many jelly beans were in a bottle. As I held the bottle up and started counting how many jelly beans I could see touching the bottom, a niece whom was sitting beside me, started throwing in all kinds of random numbers. With a chuckle I said, "Kalee, my brain is dizzy and fuzzy enough without you helping it along!" "Oh Aunt Cheryl, I didn't even think about that, I'm .." "Chuckle, chuckle. Your as bad as all of my guys and all of their lines about me being 'off balanced' and all!"
    After a couple of the ladies giving the shower had gone through every bodies guesses, they brought five answers back in and the expecting mommy had to draw one. Nobody had hit the number right on, so they had her draw from the top five. While I didn't win, I did learn that my guess was only off by three!!! Woohoo!!!
    The other game was a version of the ever popular "unscramble the words". But this time it had a twist. Across the top of the page, it had said something about it being things baby 'Carpenter' (their last name) would need. As I started looking down the list, suddenly one of the words looked like it could be 'hand saw'. Hum mmm, it would be something a 'Carpenter' would need .... I tried to keep going, but the letters started dancing (vertigo affects everything!!! :-(.)
   Turned out I was right. funny! But a few of the women piped up that that wasn't fair, they had been trying to find actual baby items, so she gave them five more minutes. The winner received a purple handled hammer :-> And the mom to be got a wooden pounding on peg board thingy. Creative!
    Jewels and I left right after the gift opening started. My head was starting to really spin, and her husband was back home from doing a long haul on the road. But the mom to be did open our gifts before we left. Mine was a 'Life File' . I had planned on making one, but I had also been INFORMED that that was what I was suppose to give ;-p Jewels gift was adorable! It was a pink with colored handle little tote bag, which had pink baby sized sandals strapped to it. Inside there was an infant girl two piece swim suit, a small sized beach towel, and a thermal cover for a baby bottle. ABSOLUTELY creative and adorable!!!
    En-route there and back, I got to catch up about Jewel's husbands new job, her sons wedding in July, her daughters wedding in December - life. Friends are such a blessing!!! And a treasure!!!

the second tale -

     Yesterday I had said that I was going to share a couple of "grandma tales" with you, but had ended up only sharing the one (still smiling over it though!) Here is the second one.
    One afternoon Analyse was sitting in my lap, very tired, and I was trying to settle her into a nap. As I was looking down on her, I noticed how her hair was starting to grow. (Grandma's notice these things! ;-p) I couldn't help myself, I started caressing it. I learned that caressing her hair helps her settle down and that she really likes it!! She's like her daddy in that respect!!!
    Then I noticed that on the sides, her hair was just long enough it was over her ears. How cute! As I was stroking it, I tucked the one side behind her ear. It stayed. Cute!!! About a minute later she reached up and grabbed at her hair. However, those adorable little hands didn't only get the hair, they got the whole ear. So when she pulled hard on her hair, she was also pulling hard on her ear. OUCH!!!
    She let out this little howl and instantly started crying hard. Real tears and everything!!! We immediatly had the attention of everybody in the room. While I was trying to sooth and comfort Analyse, I was also explaining what was wrong to everybody else. Some responded full of sympathy, both for me and Analyse. But others of course started with the "what a mean grandma" and "just cause you were a mean mom, doesn't mean you have to be a mean grandma too" lines. I get no respect o;-p
    I was able to quickly sooth Analyse and get her to sleep. And my mind took great note that she does NOT like her hair tucked behind her ears!!!

Cute Grandma Tales ;-}

   Last night I got to reminiscing about when my family had surprised me recently and Byron, Cyndi and Analyse were here for five days. Ah, what joy :-D !!! As I was doing so, a couple of different Analyse tales came to mind, and I decided to share them with you. Hope you don't mind. Would it matter? Probably not .... o;-p
   ( A while back Jill R. had commented, saying that I should save these postings about Analyse and give them to her some time. I had replied that I had already planned on it. I am going to start printing all of them off, putting them in page protectors, in a huge three ring binder, and then present it to her shortly before her wedding. )
   While they were here, I held Analyse in my lap as much as possible. She is a v-e-r-y active girl, and my vertigo was just as active at that point in time, so I dared not walk holding her, etc.. And she tolerates 'siting in one place' only so long. But that was okay. I could still watch her!
   But she started doing this ever so adorable, heart touching thing. (Misty eyed just remembering). The first time, she was sitting up in my lap playing with something, then suddenly she leaned back against me. I couldn't resist, I lightly leaned my head down against hers. She literally sighed and scooted closer. I was touched! I kissed her on the top of the head. She grinned up at me, sat another moment like that, then sat herself up and went back to playing.
   The absolutely wonderful part was, it was not only a one time happening!! :-} Every once in awhile she'd just lean back, sigh, and snuggle close. I could never resist kissing the top of her head and then resting my head on hers!! The moments were just too precious! But one time, for what ever reason, I just leaned against her with out kissing her. After a minute, she looked up at me all quizzical. I smiled and kissed the top of her head. She BEAMED up at me and snuggled closer, before jumping up to play with her book again. OH MY GOODNESS!!! The things that girl does to this grandma's heart!!! And to think that she only turned nine months old during the time they were here for that visit!!

   I know that I said I was going to share a couple of tales. The other one is going to wait and be a different posting. I'm just going to treasure this one for now ;-}

"Pick a tip, any tip ('09)"

     As so many things do with me, this too all started innocently enough. I had gone back to our xanga site to look for the postings in which I had mentioned my blogging friend Michelle. But could I easily find them? Of course not! But I did stumble upon some previous postings about "wondering about myself", so I decided to link them up to the posting I was going to be doing on that [which has now recently been done]. And I found some postings about 'communicating", so I linked those to a new example too.
      I had also kept coming across postings which contained "hopefully useful tips". I decided to do a posting about all of them. Yes, a-l-l of them. Well, this list is all of the ones from 2009. A directory listing of sorts. And I thought I should title it, "Pick a tip, any tip ....". This then is that there posting :-}

April 29, 2009 - "Life Files" - great for baby shower gifts, etc.

May 13, 2009 - "Inexpensive Fun" - ideas for family outings

Sept. 13, 2009 - "Wet Toys" - what to put them in to air dry

Sept. 21, 2009 - "Toothpicks" - good for more than just teeth

Sept. 28, 2009 - "Use Your Oven" - as a warming oven

Oct. 5, 2009 - "Reusable Free Pails" - NOT Ice Cream buckets

Oct. 10, 2009 - "Tips On Tips" - working in the food industry

Oct. 12, 2009 - "Preparing For Winter" - your car, your personal 'stuff'

Nov. 1, 2009 - "Changing The Size Of Your On Screen Script"

Nov. 11, 2009 - "Brownies" - "These brownies are "scrumdelicious"!!! "

Nov. 23, 2009 - "What To Do With Bread" - heels of loafs, dried out bread, etc.

Nov. 25, 2009 - "Christmas Decorations / Thanksgiving" - when should decorations go up?

Dec. 7, 2009 - "Multi Use Spray" - helps more than just baking pans!

Dec. 14, 2009 - "Empty Prescription Bottles" - usable for other things too

Dec. 18, 2009 - "Improvised Recipe" - I took Chicken and ....

Dec. 19, 2009 - "A Unique Cleaning Project" - cold or warm water?

Dec. 21, 2009 - "2 Calenders And A File Box" - so the whole family can keep track of events

Dec. 28, 2009 - "Usable On More Than Just Dough" - pastry blenders

I hope that you find at least one thing in the list that really does help you!

    PLEASE come back here after you read any and leave your comments about them on this blog. Thanks! [and yes, you are welcome (even encouraged) to read each and every one, and leave a comment about it each and every time]

I 'plan' on linking this particular posting to:
~ "Share Your Life Your Blog", hosted by Sarah, at 'Real Life' (http://www.reallifeblog.net/).
~ "Make-Do Mondays", are hosted by Shari, at 'My Practically Perfect Life' (www.practically-perfect-life.blogspot.com).
~ "Making Your Home Sing Monday('s)", are hosted by Nan, at 'Mom's the Word (I love to hear)' (http://momstheword--livingforhim.blogspot.com/).
~ "Homemaker Mondays ... Yours, Mine & Ours", are hosted by Jen, at '11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven' (http://rtheyallyours.blogspot.com/).
~ "Monday Mommy Tip('s)", are hosted by Marie, at "Mommy Community' (http://mommycommunity.com/category/Monday-mommy-tip/)

~ "Tempt My Tummy Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Lisa, at 'Blessed with Grace' (http://blessedwithgrace.blogspot.com)
~ "Tuesdays at the Table", are hosted by Cole, at 'All The Small Stuff' (http://allthesmallstuff.blogspot.com/).
~ "Kitchen Tip Tuesday('s)", are hosted by Tammy, at 'Tammy's Recipes' (http://www.tammysrecipes.com/).