Blackberry Creek Home Arts

Do You Know What This Means?

Joy and my daughter Andy have been best friends ever since about 3rd grade. It was bad enough when they grew up, got married, and had babies of their own. But now just look! This is Joy's GRANDBABY!!!!

Do you know what this means? I could be a great grandmother--well sort of, by proxy, I am, since Joy has always called me Mom.

I just can't believe this. It ain't right. And you know what else? All she sent us was this picture. I'm assuming he's a boy, since everything is blue. But what's his name? when was he born? How much does he weigh? I want some particulars about my proxy great grandchild.

I've tried for an hour to find a photo of Joy and Andy but can't do it. But believe me people, they are not old enough for me to be a great grandmother--not yet! (But isn't he just the most precious little thing? Almost makes it OK to be a by-proxy great-granny.)

You-Know-You-Want-It Blog Giveaway

Well, you gotta admit, it's a start. Yesterday I spent several hours putting pieces of fabric in stacks and bags and containers. But from the looks of the next photo, there's still a lot to do before my sewing room will be entirely recovered from the storm that hit it.

If you see anything you like, it might could be yours, along with stuff that didn't make it into the photos. Read on.....

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Tomorrow, November 30, is the one-year anniversary of my first post. In honor of this occasion, I'm going to fill an 11.75" x 8" x 4.75" box full of some of the fabric pieces in my sewing room and send it to the winner of my anniversary drawing.

If you'd like to be included in the drawing, just leave a comment on this post. I'll hold the drawing on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week, so comment soon.

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Oh here's another drawer full of the stuff.

And Another! ******************************************************************************
So please tell all your friends to come by and sign up. You never know what all might wind up in that giveaway box.

Remember, all you have to do to sign up for the giveaway is leave a comment here.

Holiday Decorating Put on Hold

This morning, I pulled a chair up to one of my high kitchen cabinets and looked in to see if my Christmas treasures are still there. They are. Here are a few of my Santas, waiting patiently to come out and celebrate.

I thought I would begin decorating as soon as I had the banners done and the sewing room straightened up. But instead, we decided to recarpet the first floor (it needs it so badly) before Christmas. So Vann went out box hunting today and came back with the Suburban full of cardboard boxes to pack up all our stuff. We have to empty out the china cabinet, books shelves,  and the entertainment armoire  and get all the do-dads and gee-gaws out of the way so that the  installers can get to work early Tuesday morning. They'll do the heavy lifting. Now where we're going to put all this stuff while they're installing carpet, I've yet to figure out. The kitchen isn't big enough to hold it all. Maybe the weather will stay dry and we can put some stuff out back on the porch. We need a POD!

So then I thought I would choose a new theme for my blog that was Christmassy, but I couldn't find one in the Typepad themes that I liked, so for now, I'm leaving it like it is. I'm planning to upgrade and outfit Blackberry Creek with its own unique banner, but I can't do that until I have some free time--free from banners and carpet men and sewing rooms and offices that need organizing. Who knows when that will be?

So for now, all holiday decorating is resting on the back burner. I won't even get my Christmas quilts out yet, since they would only be in the way.

I have decided what form my Christmas family celebration will take. We're going to have Soup Night on Christmas Eve. I'm going to make several pots of favorite family soup recipes, a salad, and some desserts. We'll have a jigsaw puzzle set up for anyone who wants to work on it (I have a beautiful Christmas one), and at some point, we'll watch a holiday movie (either "A Christmas Story" or "It's a Wonderful Life" probably). And I'm thinking of maybe a Christmas trivia game or something like that with prizes. This affair is still in the planning stages, and events are subject to change.

Coming Attractions

I'm so busy right now, trying to catch up on everything I let go while I was sewing the banners. But here are a few things you can look for in coming days.

*One-year blog anniversary giveaway.
*Blog holiday decorating.
*Carpet installation.
*Sewing room cleanup
*AND MORE! (When I was a craft book editor, that's what we always wrote on book jacket blurbs after listing all the projects we could think of).

But right now I have to go to the library to pick up A Thousand Splendid Suns, which is the book my book club is reading for December. I also have to go to the grocery store because I forgot to get Sophie's Pupperoni yesterday, and she's mad at me. Then I have to go to the p.o. to mail some books (PaperBackSwap) and a get-well and asympathy card (both of which are late). Playing catch-up is maddening, isn't it. Check back soon for the giveaway.

We Did It, Y'all!

The Christmas banners are done and hanging in the sanctuary. I took it right down to the wire. I was stitching down binding while everyone else was hanging greenery and decorating the Christmon tree. Chuck B. graciously stayed a few minutes after everyone else had left to help Vann hang the banners when I was finally finished stitching.

The dedications for these two go thusly: "Star of Wonder" (left) made and given in loving memory of my niece, Jenny Cage. "The First Noel" (right) made and given in loving memory of my Mama, Mary Ramey.

Thanks to all of you who gave me encouragement and faith in my abilities. Thanks to Vann for doing laundry, making the bed, keeping Sophie occupied, clipping threads and applying Fray Check to my boo-boos, and thanks to God for everything.

The carpet people are coming tomorrow to measure the living room, dining room, and master bedroom for new carpet. That's going to be our Anniversary/Christmas present. Today is our 13th anniversary. It's dreary and chilly here, so instead of going out, we're going to order a pizza and watch a movie off of PPV.

Starting tomorrow (I've had one day of rest), I start cleaning up and organizing the sewing room and my office. Both are disaster areas, very nonconducive to creativity.

Thanks again all. I couldn't have done it without you.

Cut on the Bias and All Tangled Up

I awoke at 4:00 this morning, worried about completing the banners. But I didn't start work right away. Instead I read, drank two cups of coffee, and took the dogs out before going into the sewing room.

The first thing that caught my attention in the sewing room was this wad of bias binding that I had removed from one of the banners yesterday after deciding that the border was all wrong for the quilt.

This tangled mass of bias strips reminds me of my life right now. I promise myself, my husband, my dog, my doctor, my friends and family and anyone else who would like to claim this promise that I will never again voluntarily load myself down with this kind of pressure--and especially not on a holiday weekend.

Everything in my life seems tangled up and out of control right now, and I know it's the pressure to complete these banners in time, and the fact that my home is a cluttered mess--especially my sewing room. Just look (if you dare).
The entire house doesn't look this bad, but you get the picture. (Now don't one of you call those "Clean House" people to come in here. I couldn't take them fooling around in my mess and throwing stuff out right now. Maybe later though.)

I did (with Vann's help) manage to get Thanksgiving dinner cooked, and we had Andy and Jesse over to eat with us. But the turkey was dry and the dressing was soggy, and I was so tired I don't even remember what anything tasted like.

Vann left yesterday for hunting camp, so it's just me and the dogs (Daisy is still with us). I keep thinking how nice it would have been just to spend the weekend in bed with a book, maybe get up to watch the Iron Bowl this afternoon. Instead, I have to go back into that wreck of a sewing room. Never. Never again. I'm never saying yes to anything again in my whole entire life. NEVER!!!!

Give Thanks

Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you, God, for everything.

Today: Sew, Cook, Sew, Eat, Sew

With four and a half days left until banner hanging, I have everything done except adding borders, quilting, binding, and sewing on sleeves and labels. Well, actually, now that I'm getting a good look at this one, I see where I need to add some more "leading"--but only just a few pieces.

Yesterday morning, I shopped for Thanksgiving groceries. Andy and Jesse are coming, and we're having turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, ham (Jesse won't eat turkey), mashed potatoes, green beans, potato rolls, tea, deep dish apple pie, and vanilla ice cream. I'll start cooking today.

I had thought we would go out for dinner, and that would have been fine with Vann. But then I got to thinking about not having the smell of baked turkey permeating the house on Thanksgiving, and I decided to cook. And then there's the matter of leftover turkey for sandwiches, salads, turkey tetrazzini, turkey soup, turkey pie. What would we eat for the next week if we didn't have leftover turkey? I think that Vann thinks I'm crazy--and I think I am too.  You're welcome to weigh in on the subject if you like.

This evening, we're going to Paul and Karen's to have some of Paul's great cuisine: oyster po' boys and gumbo. Oh my! All this talk of food is making me hungry.

Daisy is going to spend Thanksgiving with us too. Lori dropped her off last night. She (Lori) is going to accompany her friend Frank to his colonoscopy today; then, after she has him safely back home, she's leaving for Little Rock, where she'll attend a Thanksgiving family reunion and see her sweet Lily.

I pray that everyone arrives at their destinations and back home again safely this holiday. I'm glad we're staying home.

Ding Dong Merrily on High

Progress Report
Three shepherds and two sheep down; one sheep and three angels to go. Gloria in excelsis! I'm going to find some wassail.

Abundance

This is the week, isn't it, when we are encouraged to think about our blessings. I tend to do that all the time, but at Thanksgiving especially.

I happen to be reading the book The Tortilla Curtain right now. The setting is the Los Angeles area, and the main characters are of two worlds: an upwardly mobile, spendthrifty Caucasian couple, and a desperately poor, homeless Mexican couple who did not follow legal channels upon entering the U.S. The story tells of these two worlds colliding. It's a story of contrasts, smugness, hypocrisy, and fear.

I thought I knew how I felt about the illegal alien situation until I started reading this book. If you think you know how you feel, I suggest you read it too.

I believe that this week is an excellent time for me to be reading this book. It not only confuses me on the issue of illegal immigrants, it also reminds me that while I'm indeed blessed with abundance, I am charged by the faith I believe in to share those blessings. I live between the two worlds of the very wealthy and the desperately poor. I have more than enough; and I believe in my heart that all I'm entitled to is enough, if that.

A couple of years ago, my Sunday School class leader charged us with writing a Thanksgiving Psalm. Here is mine. I give it to you with my prayer that you are blessed with abundance as I am, and that you remember (as I must) that we are blessed so that we might bless others.

Thanksgiving Psalm by Susan Ramey Cleveland

Thank you, Father God, for the life you've given me. Thank you for the rainfall, the sunshine, and the trees,

For winter's bleak and snowy sites, For life that spring renews, For summer sun and playful days, For autumn's firey hues.

For all the wonders of the Earth
I thank you, precious Lord.
For what better or majestic home
Could I ever ask you for?

May I always remember
That' we're all family here.
With you, our heavenly father,
We must hold each other dear.

Thank you for all people, Lord,
Of every race and kind,
Of every lovely color
That in your human rainbow shines.

But most of all, dear Father God,
Thank you for your son.
Our savior, Jesus Christ, the King,
Your own anointed one.

He gives us hope eternal.
He teaches us to love.
With him we'll be in Glory
In our mansion home above.

For every single blessing, Lord,
I give you thanks and praise.
You are my hope, my peace, my heart,
My God of love always.

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Now, here's a real poem by a real poet who isn't afraid to write from her heart.

And now, Sophie would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving week. She got a new hairdo yesterday, and she's just dying to show it off. Or is that her mama who's dying to show it off?  Smile, Sophie! You're on SuSu's Camera.

Sanctuary

Edited: I finally got the music embeded. See below for music link.

It has been too long, since March I think, that I've been away from my Emmaus Community. Today, Veronica and I went to Camp Chula Vista in St. Clair County for a training session. I believe that Chula Vista is Spanish for "awesome view." (Although Babel Fish translates it to mean "insolent view." ) Well awesome is what it was. The drive was gorgeous with the autumn foliage at peak, and the setting at the camp looked like God had set us right down smack in the middle of a pot of gold.

And this was a homecoming too. Our group had left Camp Chula Vista due to structural problems there. But the problems have been fixed and the place is gorgeous. It's the camp where I and many of us experienced our Walks. And although the place we've been using is great, it never felt like home.

The gathering felt more like a revival than a training session--an uplifting, a spritual renewal. We sang familiar praise songs, talked of the future of the Birmingham Emmaus Community, ate too much (as usual), listened to a mind-blowing, fire-breathing, Holy Ghost sermon given by Rev. Al Lewis (being a pasty white Methodist, I don't get to hear very much of this kind of preaching), then celebrated with communion.

Rev. Lewis's sermon was called "Stir It Up," and he did. We were all raring to do God's work when the sermon was done. Before he preached, Rev. Lewis played "Amazing Grace" on his saxophone and his wife Pashion sang. Such beauty and spirit you'd be hard pressed to beat.

I'm so very grateful for this day in my life. I thank God for what he has given me and where he has put me--for eyes to see his beautiful creation, for ears to hear sweet music, and for a heart to hold it all.

"Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary; pure and holy, tried and true.  With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for You."

Click on the music player below to hear the beautiful praise song "Sanctuary." It's a perfect description of what this day was for me. ****************************************************************************************************************************

Have any of you experienced a Walk to Emmaus? If so, please introduce yourselves. I'm Susan Cleveland, Birmingham Walk to Emmaus #37, Table of Esther. DeColores!
 

Two Announcements

Sour Cream Pound Cake Recipe
For those of you who asked for the Sour Cream Pound Cake recipe, go HERE.

Blog Anniversary Giveaway
November 30 is Blackberry Creek's one-year anniversary. Look for a Giveaway announcement next week to celebrate my blogiversary.

A New Generation of Needlepeople

Here's my nephew Reed. Finally one of the younger/est generation of my family who is taking up needle and thread (yarn). Way to go, Reed Roe.

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And here's the book my sister Ramey chose for her name book challenge. It's not her name, and she isn't a possum, but this is the book (and the marsupial) that she relates to (to which she relates?). So good show, I say.

I Think I Can, I Think I Can....

I was totally on my feet for about five straight hours yesterday, getting the Baby Jesus and manger added to the Greatest Gift banner. Take that, Fibromonster! It wasn't easy, but I did it.

This one is complete except for borders and machine quilting. I'm about to start the second one, "The Annoucement." It's about angels and shepherds and has no strip-pieced star rays, so I think it might be faster. But it does have lots of black bias strips, and that takes a lot of time at the ironing board, standing up 'cause I can't iron sitting down.

Nine days, counting today, till the banners are supposed to be hung. I don't know, but I think I can.

Laughing and Sewing

Here's a fun blog game that I read about on BJ's Sweet Nothings. (Of course, I would like this one since the subject is BOOKS.) Go to amazon.com, click on BOOKS, type in your name in the search box for TITLES. See what you get. Choose one that fits you, your life, your thoughts, or just something you like. Post it on your blog and let us know so we can go look.

I chose this book because, well, just look at that little girl. Isn't she having fun? (Not sure the cat is, though.) I like to have fun. And her hair looks a little like mine--just sort of all over the place. And I like to wear blue jeans and pink shirts. And I love to laugh.

Now go find your book. I have to go back to that blasted sewing room.

And Autumn Just Keeps On Coming

This is a view from my backyard, looking up the hill toward Maria's house. I just can't get over this wonderful autumn--and after the weather people told us not to expect much color this year because of the drought.

Yesterday, Vann and I took a ride down Hwy 119 to the traffic madness of Hwy 280 to shop for fabric and other things. From our house down 119 is about an eight-mile ride through a gorgeous valley of horse farms and homesteads. The foliage on the mountains on either side was indescribably beautiful. God is such a talented artist.

First stop was Hancock Fabrics (Vann went to Dick's Sporting next door). I found some fabric to finish up the "Greatest Gift" banner. I was good too; I didn't buy anything I didn't need.

Afterward we had hotdogs and french fries at Sneaky Pete's, then went to Wal-Mart to buy ingredients to bake a Sour Cream Pound Cake for Vann to take to his mom and dad today. (He left at 4:00 this morning to go to south Georgia to see them. Sophie and I stayed here to work on the banners. Here's the cake. Vann called me a little while ago from his mom's house. They had already had cake and coffee, and the cake was a hit.

I did pick up one item that I didn't technically need--this new magazine from Somerset Studio. Have y'all seen it? I'm probably the last one to know, as usual, but I was tickled pink to find it. It has a multitude of wonderful projects using sewing with mixed media art. There are books and bags  and cards and journals and I don't know what all, all using sewing, both hand and machine.

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So last night, Jesse came over and I helped him with his math.

Gene had sent us some of his homemade  Nuclear Chili. (That's stuff is beyond spicy; it sure clears out your sinuses.) I made Mac & Cheese for Jesse; he wasn't about to try the chili.

In the evening, I baked the cake, cleaned up the kitchen, then watch "Cane." I'm sort of losing interest in that show. The whole family, including Alex Vega (Jimmy Smits) makes one stupid decision after another. I'm really losing patience with the whole bunch.

Now I'm going back to the sewing room. I've lollygagged enough.

Woo Hoo! Guess what? It's raining!

 

Christmas Banners Progress Report

Only 12 more days till the Christmas banners are scheduled to be hung in the church. Here's the so-far progress on the first one. (You see, I have been working.)

I find I have to go fabric shopping. I have been through every piece of fabric--every yard, half yard, fat quarter, scrap, everything--in my embarrassingly humongous stash, and I find nothing appropriate to make the manger that will appear below the star. Not only do I not have time to go fabric shopping, fabric shopping is a dangerous activity for me (as you know). I'm likely to come back with fabric that has no bearing on these banners. Likely, heck! It's a sure bet!

Blessed Sunday

This morning was the first time I've seen the "Give Thanks" banner hanging in the church narthex. We missed church last week.

I have exactly two weeks from today to get the Christmas banners done. I'm working, but progress seems to be way too slow.

I feel so stiff, sore, and tired during this days of changing weather conditions that all I want to do is nest on the couch and read a book or watch a movie. But I know I have to keep hustling; Seeing the new banners hanging behind the choir will make it all worthwhile.

This was collection day at our church for the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. This is only a small part of the boxes we collected. This year our goal was 300; I think we made it. Vann, Sophie, and I filled three boxes.

Vann and I had lunch at El Chokador (as Lori calls it--it's really El Cazador) after church. We had grilled shrimp. Sooooo good. When we got home, my daughter Andy was here. Vann just left with Bill to spend the night at hunting camp for their work day tomorrow. After a brief visit with Andy, I'll get back into the sewing room to work on the banners.

And Now This!

I just need to live in a Fabric/Yarn store (with a nice coffee shop next door).

Now Lion Brand Yarn is out to get me to buy stuff. Yesterday I got a wonderful catalog from them with beautiful projects and yarn, all of which I want, of course.

Then this morning when I sign on to check my e-mail, I find a message from Lion advertising this wonderful Cupcake Yarn. Isn't it delicious? And the little cupcake is a FREE pattern!!! Wouldn't it make sweet pincushions to give to all my quilting friends? Can anybody point me toward a good therapist?

Writers' Strike Hits Home

                                                   Maybe

I didn't pay much attention to the TV writers' strike until just now when I learned that it will delay the new season of 24. That's not acceptable, y'all. You writers have to go back to work now. I know that the price of gasoline is way up and times are tough all over, but you just have to go back to work. You don't understand. The 7th season of "24" is something I've been looking forward too since the 24th episode of Season 6. Think of all the disappointed fans--especially me. Think of my man Keifer with his substance problems and all. Who do I write to about this?

In Sink

The plumber was hardly out of the way before I was snapping pictures to show you my new beautiful white enamel-over-cast-iron kitchen sink with it's shiny new faucets. I just love it. I've hated the metal one ever since we bought this house> Now I'm so happy, I just want to WASH SOMETHING!

Thanks to my sweet husband Vann for getting this for me and the house.

Around Every Corner

I am going to have to stay away from the computer till I get caught up on projects. Every time I log on, somebody has sent me something that I think I have to have. Look at these new fabrics from Ricky Tims. Did you ever? I found them in the e-newlsletter from Everything Quilts. I also found this Moda jelly roll and quilt design. Let me out of here!!!!

The plumber is coming soon to install my new sink. I'm so excited. (How many people do you know who get excited about a new kitchen sink?)

Look What I Found!

I received my invitation to Ravelry this week. So while I was photographing some projects to post in my Projects, I found this--the Rex the Cat afghan that I started while I was still working at OH and editing one of Vanna's crochet books. I had completely forgot about it. It's about half finished--stitched entirely in single crochet using Wool-Ease Red Sprinkles, White Frost and Black Frost. I just have to finish it. But when?

Today I have to go with Vann to pick out a new kitchen sink. I've wanted a new sink ever since we bought this house, so I can't miss this opportunity. Then I have to go with my daughter at noon to meet with Jesse's teachers (it doesn't sound good). Then I have a chiropractor appointment at 2:30. And all the time I should be in the sewing room working on the Christmas banners for church (I got a lot done on them yesterday). So what am I doing sitting here?

Old Jack Frost Is on His Way!

The weather lady on Channel 13 (can't remember her name) says that we're in for wintertime temperatures this week. Lows will drop below freezing by tomorrow night. So I cut the last of the hydrangeas and brought them in to enjoy so Jack Frost can't blow his chilly breath on them.

The hydrangeas didn't even bloom this year until about September. I think the drought had something to do with it. But when they bloomed, they really put on a show.

I made our first pot of Santa Fe Soup for the year yesterday--and what a pot I made. We had it for lunch just before Phillip and Carrie left for the airport, and I put enough in the freezer for four more lunches or suppers. Just in time for the frigid weather. Also I'm going to be super busy this week and won't have time for much cooking, so we'll probably get tired of soup before it's gone.

By my count, I have 20 days to get the two Christmas banners done for the church sanctuary. Here's how much I've done so far:
So excuse me please while I get back to the sewing room.

Only in Alabama....

Chris and Casey's wedding was precious, but a little different from any wedding I've ever attended. Before the ceremony started, while guests were being seated, music was playing: nothing strange about that, except for the type of music being played, which was country with song after song about cheating and broken hearts.

But the couple was gorgeous in their formal attire, and the vows went off without a hitch.

This was also the first wedding reception I've ever attended where the bride and groom had to compete for attention with a football game. The Alabama Crimson Tide was playing the LSU Tigers--and where there's a TV--well, you get the picture (see above). Sadly, oh so very sadly, Bama was outscored (but not necessarily outplayed) by LSU.

And then there was the groom's cake. See for yourself. Chris is a avid hunter, as you can see by his cake. Casey was not his first girlfriend; she was just the first who didn't get all pouty every year during hunting season. So he married her.

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Here's the beautiful couple, sharing their first dance as husband and wife.
Doesn't Casey look a little like a young
Reba McIntyre? And doesn't Chris have a handsome profile?

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And here are our son Phillip, his fiancee Carrie, and (of course) Sophie just a little while ago. Phillip and Carrie are now on their way to the airport to return to Wyoming. We miss them already. But they'll be back at Christmastime.