I don't really like animals, but...

I admittedly am not a huge animal-lover, but for some reason I have a soft spot for goats and cats.  Dogs--not so much.  Only if they are outside and do not slobber on me.  Just thought I'd share that with you.

Anyway, I realized that I have not posted about my little goaties in a while.  So here are a few photos!

Dean's coat is coming back in, and it is absolutely gorgeous.  He is also showing the beginnings of a beard!  (My little man's growin' up!) (I feel like I should erase the last parentheses, but I'll leave it up for the sake of honesty.  Yes, I do feel that way about my goat.  Yes, I know this is strange.  I will own this.)

Truitt is adorable and funny, and follows Dean around like a shadow wherever he goes.  He is getting bigger--he and Dean are about the same size now.  Truitt has become extremely friendly since I got him, and likes to talk a lot.  He has the funniest voice, too--where Dean's is low and scraggly, Truitt's is shrill and loud.

Goat update: complete. On to the funny cat pictures.

Our cat Gracious thinks that she is a person, and thus should be inside the house with the rest of the people.  Sometimes she takes drastic measures in order to accomplish this.

 This is our front door, in case you were wondering.

Meow?

Ok, off to study polling and voting statistics.  Whoop!

~Bessie

"Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD.

His going forth is established as the morning;

He will come to us like the rain, 

Like the latter and former rain to the earth."

Hosea 6:3

Man-shirts and time

Although I haven't posted much sewing-related lately, I have been sewing here and there over the past couple weeks.  I've been working on two projects: Jennifer's shirt dress and my first man-shirt (man-shirt = a shirt for a man).

The shirt dress has been muslined (let's just make up new words now, Bessie), fit, cut out, and is ready to stitch together.  The man-shirt is finished as of this afternoon.  Hooray for finished projects!  I would share pictures of the man-shirt, but it is a gift for a friend and I don't want him to see it just yet. :)  I will say that it turned out very nicely--in fact, I like it so much that I might have to sew a girl version for myself!  I'll post some pictures once the gift has been given.

Here is a picture of the pattern I used:

The long-sleeved version, for fall.

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The topic at church today was time.  Funny, I have been thinking a lot about time lately--about how little we have, and how much of it we squander.  I say we, but I really mean me.  I have been running around like a chicken with its head cut off lately, definitely not managing my schedule or redeeming my time well.  The result is stress, illness, confusion, and ultimately lethargy.  Not good.  

I like the acronym our pastor used in his teaching:  

Treasure -We need to realize what a priceless treasure our time is, and how fragile our lives are.

Invest -Time cannot be saved--it can only be spent and invested.  How am I investing my time?

Manage -It takes self-discipline, but managing our time correctly will bring peace and productivity to our lives.

Enjoy -Time is also meant to be enjoyed.  I need to make sure I have margin time in my life!

I don't want to waste a minute being so stressed out and busy that I cannot enjoy and fully experience the time that I have.  I think the secret is cultivating a lifestyle of simplicity, which entails learning how to say "no" sometimes.  I have been bad about that lately--saying yes too much and filling my days to the max.  Lord, teach me to be wise with my time, and to use it to Your glory. 

"The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away......So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  Psalm 90:10,12

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time..." Ephesians 5:15

~Bessie

Crayons and Coasters

Cowboy Cael

My mother and I were enjoying a cup of coffee and a nice conversation, when John (4) burst through the door looking agitated, yelling, "Mom!  Cael is putting crayons in the peanut butter!  CRAYONS!!!"  

Yummy!

This is what I love about my family, and about life with kids in general.  Never a dull moment. 

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Ok, so I attempted to take some pictures of my coasters, but they didn't turn out that great and I am feeling too lazy to take them again.  So for now, this should give you an ok idea of how they turned out (the top photo is more true to the actual colors):

I really love them.  :D

In other news, my friend Davis and I have been working on some music together and have made a band page on facebook.  You should check it out!   Hooray for music. :)

Have a great weekend!

~Bessie

Featured Pattern: Sophisticated 60's

I am in love with this pattern.  Then why sell it, you ask?  Because alas--I am in love with a whole lot of patterns and my pending projects are piling up to the ceiling.  Thus I am sharing the love. ;)  Do you feel it?

My favorite design element on this dress are the set-in sleeves with top-stitching.  My second-favorite is the peter-pan collar on view 1.  Cute!  Like most dresses of this style and era, this would look fantastic made up in a soft wool.  It would look especially snazzy if you had a hat similar to model no. 1's.

I have a bunch of cute fall patterns up at the shop, so do come by and take a look!

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In other news,

Math class =

Alas!

Have a great Friday evening,

~Bessie

O.C.

"The expression of Christian character is not good doing, but God-likeness.  If the Spirit of God has transformed you within, you will exhibit Divine characteristics in your life, not good human characteristics.  God's life in us expresses itself as God's life, not as human life trying to be godly.  The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works our in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God."

~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest.  September 20.

One of the best antique store finds EVER

I went antiquing over the weekend and came home with the most wonderful treasure--an old family photo album.  The album has no name in it, and dates back to the early 20th century (teens-twenties).  I have always loved old photos, but the thing that struck me most about this collection is how real the people seemed.  You know how people in old photographs are usually stiff and stodgy-looking, and often seem to be a bit angry at you? Not this family.  They are smiling, and goofing around and laughing at each other and playing with babies and doing things that normal people do.  I think that the family must have been wealthy, to have so many pictures taken of everyday life.  Either that, or a family member was a photographer. Hm.

For those of you who delight in stepping into the past, I am going to share some of my favorite album pages with you here on the blog.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! :D

Look--an airplane!

Isn't this woman beautiful?  I love the pictures of her with her baby.

Here are some independent pictures that I thought were really cool:

Two sisters playing music together--reminds me of my family. :)

I love this one.  They are being goofy and posing and the woman is laughing.

This fellow sent some young lady a postcard with a picture of him in his football uniform.  He looks pretty dashing, does he not? 

That's all for now, folks! 

~Bessie

One 70's Pattern I DO like

  What do you think about this made up in a lightweight charcoal grey wool?  

(the color in my sketch is a lot lighter than I actually envision)

I especially love the belt!  I'm not sure what color I'd make it in. Red or black, probably.  

I might have to make an exception to my "no new projects" pledge for this one.  ;)  

Have a fantastic day!

~Bess