Sylvia's Simple Shots

On the 3rd Sunday of Advent we light the JOY candle.

We have anticipated much and the end is near.  We are so filled with joy for the coming of the one who is Emmanuel - God with us.

I found this video this week and thought of my sister who does slow stitching regularly.

Stitch Meditation Scrolls by K3N presents several scrolls of a variety of sizes.

My sister and had a bit of a conversation about the concept.

Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker is a book I finished reading this week. 

Very bizarre story line where a man isolates his children from the time they are around 4 until they leave in their twenties.  No TV, no internet, limited amount of books, no socialization with others.  Groceries are regularly delivered to the large beautiful house. Father goes to town occasionally, the doctor comes when absolutely necessary, and that is how life is.  Dorothea and Jimmy know no better. Father says this is for their protection.

Jimmy just walks away one day believing that there is more than Father says out there.  He writes but then Father gets really sick and refuses hospital. Dorothea decides she must find Jimmy before their father dies. 

We do see the world according to their mother Lucy who has no idea where they are.  Has searched for years to find them to no avail.  Tragedy was part of her life and she found her husband's "protection" suffocating. She exerted control on her life with very sad results and the loss of her children. 

Eventually, the father facilitates the reunion of the children with their mother and all three come to the father's rescue.  The father gets the medical care he needs.  Is there hope for this family?

My friend, her partner and I attended this Christmas concert this week.  Her and I had attended 2 or 3 before the pandemic and it was now being held again.

It is just as one would expect from a Christmas concert, the children choirs, the adult choirs, several soloists, and beautiful music.

It was held in the community center which was quite full. In years past, it was held in the church which burned down a while ago.  It is being rebuilt and should be open for Christmas 2025!

It was nice to attend with friends.

After my discussion about slow stitch scrolls with my sister earlier this week and had the thought maybe I could make one.

I had filled the page in my organizer about the upcoming shows for 2024 and one is a 3D show.  It has\d been discussed at the reception of the Value of Color show. I called the gallery and got clarification about the brief and it should be a recycled/reused project.  It should be 3D but could be 2D with texture.

I checked out the spool bin and found a large spool that would do nicely.  I ripped a piece of cotton 3 inches wide which had been tie-dyed and added green color with permanent acrylic liquid ink.  It looks quite like a garden now.

I went to the ReUse center and brought home bits and bobs that may contribute to the end product.  Still mulling over the options in my mind. Check back later.

I did pick up my items from the gallery on the last day of the Christmas Store.  I was disappointed that some items did not sell at all.  No photo cards, linen coasters, or count down calendars sold.

The One of a Kind oil diffusers did not sell as well as last year.

My Tree Scent Ornaments did well again this year and I did sell some Sticky Note Holders.

There will have to be a total rethink about it for next year.  

Will I put anything into the store next year? 

If I do, what new and wonderful thing will I create?

Sylvia's Simple Shots

It's the first Sunday of Advent.  I placed my advent wreath on the pine secretary this year as furniture shifted when the sofa was removed from the living room.

I added pine cones in the cylinders this year with a small bird perching on a branch in the front.

The first candle is lit which is the candle of HOPE. 

The first candle harkens us back to Isaiah’s foretelling of the birth of Christ and all of the promises God gave us in the Old Testament that would be fulfilled by the birth of Jesus.

I had police cars all over the block this evening.  I was not able to discover till Monday what had happened.  There were many crusiers and officers on the main road which had been closed to traffic. 

Turns out that police were called when a man armed with a knife was approaching people on the street. A confrontation occurred and a police officer discharged his weapon, killing the man. An ASIRT investigation continued into the early morning hours. A TV crew from one of the local news station was on the scene for a while. 

That is totally scary!

We had a bit of snow fall overnight.  There has been very little snow fall this fall.

With the temperature hovering near freezing it disappeared by weeks end.

The Paris Bookseller by Kerry Maher is the book I finished this week.  It is a novel based on a real woman named Sylvia Beach from the USA. When a young woman opens her shop - Shakespeare and Company in 1919 on a quiet Paris street in 1919, she has no idea that she and her book store will change the course of literature itself. 

Her bookstore becomes the hub for English book readers and writers.  Famous writers spend time in her little shop and she becomes friends with many.  James Joyce, the Irish writer is one of these.  When his book Ulysses is banned she takes a great risk and publishes it under the the auspices of Shakespeare and Company.  

She was very loyal to Joyce and went over and beyond to get his book published but the writer was not appreciative. He could not pay his rent, had marital strife, and health issues which consumed him.  Eventually, he did repay the debts owed and the money due her from books sales with a short thank you note. It was a very interesting book.

It was the time of year again to deal with a low pressure tire warning on the car.

It was much less stressful this year knowing what I had learned last year.  I headed off to the service station, put my money in the machine and topped all the tires to 35 psi.

At least it was not -20C like last year.

All is well!

I discovered these cookies this week. I do love ginger and they deliver a great taste.  I am not a fan of a gingersnap and after talking to my sister it was suggested that there may not be any molasses in these.  I believe that is the difference.

It makes a nice end to a meal and they can be in the house and I will not eat the whole box in a sitting.  That is what I need,

Loving them.

They were on sale as well so that is a bonus.

We had our opening of the Christmas Store on Saturday.

We had good attendance.  I met and spoke to quite a few folks from our group. 

I believe several folks left with bags in hand so that is a good thing.

I enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate which was very good along with some beautiful short bread cookies.  There was a nice variety of flavors of hot chocolate and tea and some other holiday goodies.

It was a very good time.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

The fourth Sunday of Advent. 

When things start to mount, health issues, the economy, sick loved ones, the loss of one who will not be here for Christmas, traveling in less than ideal conditions, the grey days and the very cold nights.

Struggling and rejoicing are not chronological steps but concurrent movements, one fluid with the other.

Even now I will be joyful in the God of  my salvation. All far is but the notion that God ends. When does He ever end?

Fear not!

The very cold temperatures are back again.  I am wearing layers and I have ever been so cold in my place.  Not sure why but the heating system struggles to maintain the 72F I am used to. 

This level of coolness indoors has be hugging my wheat bag warmed in the microwave and hunkering down with cozy blankets.

I have not ventured outside in these crazy temperatures and I am grateful that I don't need to go to work.

I have groceries enough.

I spend time on the internet and reading books.  Thank goodness I have a few I can choose from.

Graceline O'Malley by Ann Moore is one of the books I finished recently.  I was lucky that this is the first book in a trilogy. 

Set in the mid 1800s when the potato blight destroyed crops and left tenant farmers with no income. Gracelin only fifteen, is married off to a land owner to keep her family in the cottage they lived in for years.  She has compassion on neighbors who have been evicted from their homes due to their inability to pay the rent due to the landowner. 

I found the famine in Ireland so described in this book very hard to read about. It was devastating. Gracelin does what she must to keep her family alive.  

As political unrest sweeps across the countryside, she harbors Irish rebels -- her own brilliant brother among them -- keeping hidden, as well, the deepest secret of her heart. 

This was a great book and I will look for the next 2 books.

It is so cold that I am again taking photos through the windows.  

The sun continues to shine which is a blessing.

The snow as well makes things tricky for those who have to venture out.

I enjoyed another Patrick Taylor novel this week - An Irish Country Courtship.  This one set in the 1960s in County Down in Northern Ireland. 

Nice to revisit the family medical practice with elder Dr. Fingal Flatherie O'Reilly and the young Dr. Barry Laverty.  Barry has 6 months to go to become a full partner. He is going out with Patricia Spence an architectural student.  Dr. Fingal, a widower has recently been reacquainted with Kitty O'Hallorhan a nurse he met while at medical school. 

The courtship in this case is between the senior partner and a nurse. Barry and Patricia are struggling to maintain a long distance relationship when she goes to Cambridge to study. Barry becomes acquainted with a local teacher, Sue Nolan during a ringworm outbreak at school. 

A delightful books and I enjoyed it immensely. 

Sylvia's Simple Shots

As we wait in the dark through the long night things can feel lonely, sad and discouraging.

We must remember that dawn does come.

Christmas can only be found.  

Christmas can not be bought.

Fill your heart with the hope an light that is coming.

I put up the tree this week as I was going to be hosting some teas for Christmas visits.

This is my wall tree that I made last year.  I still love it!

This year I decided to put some narrow green garland around the edge which nicely defines it.

I placed a couple of TV tables below it to allow me to hide the cord and put any other seasonal decorations I wanted.  Nice lacy tablecloth and one of my several Nativity sets as the main one is packed.  

I did not put all the ornaments I have on this year as I was up against a deadline.

It provides beautiful light to the living room.

Thank goodness the temperature warmed up a little this week and having friends over was possible.

I pulled out the red table cloth and the plaid Christmas place mats. 

A bit of healthy veggies and brie cheese with whole grain crackers were prepared.

Some clementines as there were not Mandarin oranges when I was shopping.  Supply chain issues.  I was grateful to get most of the food I was looking forward to.

I used my white Ikea dishes and mugs on the first tea and my White Regency for the second tea. 

A bit porcelain teapot of tea and a couple of hours of catching up and visiting with friends.

The Christmas Candle I received from my sister when she was in Germany.  It comes out every year. I have added a flameless candle to it in recent years.

I spent a day with my aunt making our traditional tourtieres (meat pies).  

We made a few small ones and a big one.  She is the one who makes the pastry so she decided that she was not making another batch so we just froze the meat in containers to eat in the next months.

The frozen filling may become pies or just eaten with pea and carrots which is my traditional way of eating tourtiere.

This tea with my friend featured just a few snacks.  Chocolate almonds, Ferrero Rocher and some cranberry and almond cookies.

Still a bit big pot of herbal tea and clementines.

I so enjoyed having a few people over this year for Christmas.

I set up one of several of my fireplace DVDs and just had the crackling fire for sound.  

It makes the whole living room feel very warm and cozy and festive.

The fireplace DVDs allow me the option of just fire, fire and crackle, or fire, crackle and music.  Some feature traditional Christmas carols and hymns.

I have one that features Christmas songs by Boney M. and another with nature sounds that I use after the Christmas season.

It works well for me.

I was given this book by a friend who enjoyed and thought that I would enjoy it too.

Miracles from Heaven by Christy Wilson Beam is a true story of the miraculous healing.  Christy and Kevin Beam traveled a journey of faith by putting one foot in front of the other. Their daughter Anna was diagnosed with an incurable, life threatening disorder.  The family endured through years with Anna suffering pain, invasive testing and treatments. Travelling many hours for specialized care, managing the care of their other children, the cost of treatments were part of their lives during this time.

When Anna suffered an accident that nearly took her life they thought it would makes Anna's life even worse.  In the days that followed her rescue she shared her stunning experience of heaven.

Anna was well following this experience. God is good!

Sylvia's Simple Shots

The Second Sunday of Advent. 

The second candle is the Candle of Love.

God is LOVE!

The year has not turned out the way I planned.  I am grateful that getting together this year is safer.  

I look forward to seeing my friends which I have only been in touch with by phone, text and email.

Again, reading from the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.

I will bless you. Abram leaves and takes his family to Canaan.  

You will be experienced as a blessing to the extent you have first experienced yourself as blessed. God is good and says I will bless you. Slow down, breathe, be to see the good.

Christmas decorating has commenced.  I am grateful that the box of Christmas decorations was not packed in the spring with the anticipation of moving.

I found the star wreath I put together last year.  I had hoped to change the decoration at the top but alas it will not happen this year.

This wreath hangs on the outside door where my neighbors can enjoy it.  We have quite a few in the building with Christmas decorations out.

The Secret Hour by Luanne Rice was finished this week.

A mystery story with parallels happening in the lives of the characters.

John O'Rourke lost his wife and now is juggling the care of his 2 children - eleven year old Maggie and fourteen year old Teddy. As a lawyer he is representing a man who is accused of killing several women in the area. The general consensus is that he his guilty and John catches grief, harassment, and threats because he is defending this man.

Kate Harris is dealing with the loss of her younger sister Willa, who just disappeared 6 months ago.  A recently found postcard has brought her to this small town from Washington DC. Her sister mailed the card from the inn on the edge of the ocean here. 

It was a good book with a twist at the end which brought the story full circle.

This is one of my favorite casserole dishes.  I received the dish for Christmas from my neice and it's just right size.

This recipe is Herb-baked Fish and Rice.

It is a quick supper when I am busy with crafts and don't want to spend a lot of time on cooking.

I just use whatever veggies I have on hand.  In this case it was cherry tomatoes and broccoli.  I add some lemon vinaigrette on the fish and coat with Parmesan cheese. Always brown rice.  Delicious.

My lastest version of a essential oil diffuser.  This one hangs on the rear view mirror of the car, on the Christmas Tree, or anywhere you want a bit of scent.

I am sure glad I bought these felt balls at my local craft store in October.  I went recently to see if I could purchase another and this Christmas the decor is pom pom garlands.  

I expect the trend will be something new next season so I just let go the idea of repeating this years concept and look forward to new things in the new year.

With my Sunrise Stained Glass Window packed away I decided to hang this bright snowman in the window instead.

He was with the Christmas box.  The sun was shining bright the day I took this photo and his nose glowed bright.

It is hanging in the dining room window where the east sun comes up so late at this time of year.

I am grateful that I can enjoy it for a little while in the mornings.

The gold geometric wreath has moved from the living room to the bedroom door to make room of the Wall Christmas Tree.

I just love this wreath so it hangs on the wall all year long.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

The first Sunday of Advent. The season of waiting, preparing, anticipating.

This is my Advent Wreath set up with purple glass beads below the 4 candles with white under the candle in the center which is lit on Christmas Day.

I love glass and this is a sparkly wreath that helps me to have a happy heart while I wait.

 

The first candle is represents hope. The promise of the coming of Jesus through the many years before He arrived.

So many people waited, hoped for the light to come to the world.

Fervently anticipated the coming of the one who would bring salvation to the world.

This is my go to book for the Advent Season.  It is written by a Canadian author Ann Voskamp who is well known for her books.

As I read for the first few days of Advent here are some of the points that stand out.

He begs us to spend the the attention of Advent on 

     the little,  

            the least, 

                   the lonely,

                         the lost.

Do you fit into the adjectives?

             Do you have someone close who does?

                          Do you see someone in your daily life who does?

Pay attention to those who have been placed in your sphere of awareness and influence.

You alone were formed by a huddle of hearts: Lets make human beings.

The Three Persons of the Trinity - Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit gathered close together to imagine you and me.

And God in three persons, uncontainable affection, knelt down and kissed warm life into you with the breath of His love.

Amazing to me which fills me with gratitude of my life despite the uncontrollable circumstances that living on this earth brings with it. 

Lakeside Cottage by Susan Wiggs is a book I finished recently.

The main character Kate Livingstone return's to her family's lakeside cottage, a place of simple living and happy times. She hopes that her shy son Aaron will blossom here with the quiet life at the lake. No TV, no internet, warm weather and plenty of fresh water in this remote part of the Northwest.

The neighbor JD has escape to the remote place to find peace from the media frenzy following his actions preventing a terrible tragedy in Washington, DC.  He wants his life back where he can work, play and enjoy life without cameras, reporters and curious strangers.

Callie is a teenager who has been in the foster system for too long an wants out.  She is "adopted" for the summer by Kate who gives her a glimpse into life with a family. with Aaron a younger brother, Kate a substitute mom and JD as a father figure she grows into her teenage years supported, loved and respected. 

Of course, they all have been living in an idyllic world which healed wounds then the end of the summer brings reality but they are all able to handle it better.

My wheat bag sprung a leak.  It's not surprising as I have touched most winter days for years. 

When I have sore muscles, aches and pains, the heat brings comfort and healing.  

Sometimes I just need a bit of warmth to fall asleep.

It had been repaired many times and now the inside bag just needed to be replaced.  It had to be 100% cotton but I found a white pillow case that would do the job.  The thread has to be 100% cotton as well. The seam in the middle was a change I made during one of my repairs but I decide to keep it.

It is back in service!

I decided recently that I needed a scrap bowl on  my kitchen counter as I prepared my meals.  With the garbage under the sink I was always opening and closing the cupboard door and it was a hassle.

This way all scraps go into the bowl then I can empty it into the garbage pail once.

I like the idea.

For now I have relegated one of my medium bowls to this use.  We shall see if something else comes along which would work better either color wise or size wise.

Another good idea.

The Shoemaker's Wife by Adriana Trigiani is another book I wrapped up last week.

This was a great book.  Not the boy meets girl, fall in love and a happy ending type of simple romance stories.

This story is starts in the Italian Alps at the turn of the twentieth century when Enza (girl) and Ciro (boy) meet in her tiny village on the occasion of her youngest sisters funeral. Ciro was hired to dig the grave. They have an immediate connection but life gets in the way.

There are trips to America for both of them before they meet again. He comes to America to apprentice as a shoemaker. He learns his trade well, innovates ways to increase the income of the business but sees no benefit as his mentor's wife pockets the profits. He goes to war and meets his future business partner.

Meanwhile, on the mountain things become difficult for Enza's family and she convinces her father to travel to America so they can earn good money to build a house on the small piece of land they own.  She works as a seamstress in a factory in Hoboken for a while, then she meets a girl Laura at the factory who will be her best friend for ever.  After a scary incident at the factory they decide to take the leap to New York to find better jobs and better accommodations. Just in time they are invited to join the team at the Metropolitan Opera House.  They do well. 

When Ciro returns from World War I he finds Enza waiting outside a church on her wedding day.  He speaks to her and pleads his case, fortunately for him, he has always had her heart and she says yes.

They move to Minnesota to set up a shoe making business with his army buddy Luigi.  The set up 2 shops a few miles apart.  Life moves on, children are born, Christmases are celebrated, wonderful summers are enjoyed. Visits from Laura and Enza's father take place.

Life changes again, some return to Italy, some stay in Minnesota, children graduate from college and then a big trip is planned to visit the house house in Italy which was built by the hard earned money Enza and her father sent home for years.

A truly wonderful story and it read very easily.  I was up late into the night a couple of times.

I finally bought an audio player so that I can play my music while watching my exercise video on the TV.

It plays CDs and music on USB which is great. It also will record from the CD to the USB.  I spent a morning a few days ago organizing all my CDs into categories and boxes.  They have all been labeled so it will be easy to find what I want.

I decided to buy a USB stick which will be dedicated to music on this machine.  My exercise music for 30 minute, 40 minute and 60 minute routines has been copied to the USB.  I am working on my favorite Christmas music at the moment. 

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 1 - Come

I have provided a journal for the participants. It provides a central place to organize their experience.

Each week, they can include their prayer lists, the lesson plan, their Random Acts of Kindness, their family activities, and other relevant information.

I have cut a Stampin Up Top Note to be adhered to the front or the inside cover to identify the owner of the journal and the class.  Some journals have stripes, some dots and some chevrons.  Red, pink and grey.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 6 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

The stump brings forth a small new shoot.  We must come as we are, ready to look at the smallest, find the shoot in the stump, find the broken in the cracks of the world and offer a word of love which will bring about miracles. Because in the rush, in the hurry, in our addiction to speed - it might just be a bit like stepping on the shoot that sprouts from the stump. Advent is made of the moments.

This pink one is my book for the class which I will for this year's classes as well.  I am running a Monday evening and Thursday morning class.

I'm teaching a class I've called "Be Present for Christmas" and the first class is tonight.  It is a class to help people slow down, focus on the reason for the season, and prepare their hearts for Christmas.

I am starting with Gratitude.  I've read Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts from which I have taken a small excerpt about this very subject.  Living with an attitude of gratitude changes us. 

Share Your Cup #215

I worked on my lesson plans and activities for the Advent preparation class "Be Present for Christmas" which I am offering next month.  It is a class for adults to help us to pull back from the commercial aspects of Christmas and focus on the Reason for the season Jesus. It is based on the book "The Greatest Gift" by Ann Voskamp.  We will be having 6 lessons this time and I have updated 3 of the lessons so that it will not be the exact class from last year.  I will be posting my lessons as I teach them.

I brought some produce home from my sister's house last weekend.  I cut up this beautiful red rhubarb into chunks and froze it for crisps in the winter.  The tomatoes are grown by a friend of hers and there was a bag full of those in various stages of ripeness so I could enjoy them over a period of time.


We had a very good fellowship time on Thursday. I have taken over the planning of the group because I thought it was important that it continue.  The women really appreciated the time together to share prayer concerns.
I did a devotion on Tea - Is that a surprise? We mentioned Hospital - Tea, Hones - Tea, and a few more.  You can find it here.
Sharing with Carol at Art&Sand - Share Your Cup #125