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Oct

Sunny Autumn Picnic

Categories: Our Farm, Penny at Home, Penny's Crafts

It has been such a beautiful October, so much sunny weather and such gorgeous colors in the sky, in the trees, and everywhere you look! Beautiful Autumn.

Here are some warm pictures from around the farm. The pretty elm tree and our dairy cows, Marmee, and Kemmie out in the pasture say “hi” to you.

We recently got guinea hens and the happy critters are noisily giving their opinion of anything and everything, whether they convince anyone or not.

As Penny was dining in the side yard, a friend dropped in to see what was up. Care for a cookie?

Now they are good buddies. Penny and a puppet – chicken?

Now in this picture below you will see a surprising sight. What could it be?

A chicken in a tree! She is one of the red hens that I had let loose because she was being picked on. Now she happily has the best of the best on the farm. Here is where she sleeps every night, in the apple tree.

Today’s task is to plant some spring bulbs. We have grape hyacinths and spring crocuses. Penny, grab your shovel and let’s get to work!

You bring one of those sacks of bulbs over and I’ll dig a hole.

The directions say to plant them three inches deep and three inches apart.

And the same with the crocuses. Aren’t those interesting papery bulbs? We’ll have lots of color to greet us early in the spring, after our long cold, snowy winter.

As the rainy days set in, its time to spend some time crafting indoors. Here Penny is helping me stitch a candy corn garland to decorate with. Her little mousie pin-cushion pal is also a recent project. What an adorable face.

Little did I know that today is officially National Candy Corn Day. An annual celebration on October 30th. Wow, what timing!

Happy National Candy Corn Day, my friends!

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Jan

Smile a Bit

Categories: Nature, Penny at Home, Penny's Crafts, Winter

Comments: 1

“Sing a song, sing a song,

Ring the glad-bells all along;

Smile at him who frowns at you,

He will smile and then they’re two.

Laugh a bit, laugh a bit,

Folks will soon be catching it,

Can’t resist a happy face;

World will be a merry place.

Laugh a Bit and Sing a song,

Where they are there’s nothing wrong;

Joy will dance the whole world through,

But it must begin with you.”

Joseph Morris

I enjoy the happy swinging of this poem, it brings a smile to my face and a spring into my step. Though truly our world is full of troubles, and as humans we are weak and wounded, we have HOPE in Christ. He satisfies our deepest needs. In Him we find forgiveness, peace, purpose, life and wonder. He is our reason to rejoice as we look beyond our troubles and place our trust in His great Ability and Sovereignty. Once our hearts are settled in Him, we can sing a song and laugh a bit, and folks will soon be catching it. Spread the Joy!

Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom.
One generation commends Your works to another;
they tell of Your mighty acts.
They speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty—
They tell of the power of Your awesome works—

They celebrate Your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

The Lord is good to all;
He has compassion on all He has made.

All your works praise You, Lord;
    Your faithful people extol You.
They tell of the glory of Your kingdom
    and speak of Your might,
so that all people may know of Your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

from Psalm 145

Jan

Winnie-ther-Pooh

Categories: Penny at Home, Penny's Crafts

Comments: No

Cloudy winter days are good for quilts and stories and quiet project days with friends.

Today, Penny got out her favorite Winnie-the-Pooh book that was my Mom’s when she was little. This one was printed in 1961, and shows it was loved by its tattered edges.

“Good morning, Christopher Robin,” he said.

“Good morning, Winnie-ther-Pooh,” said you.

My friends, Sophie and Kahlan came today to play with me; together we did some watercolor painting on some Pooh drawings that I had traced onto watercolor paper.

We enjoyed the quaint sayings that are so classic.

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The watercolor artists

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Mar

Doodling Paul’s Story

Categories: Penny at Home, Penny's Crafts

Comments: 6

“Make room for me in that comfy chair, Ruby, let’s read a Bible Story together…”

This is the story of how the Apostle Paul came to be used of God in starting churches after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Many people at that time thought Jesus was a big fake and that His followers were causing trouble. In these early days, Paul was called Saul, and he hated anyone who called themselves a Christian…

The End.

You can read this story of the Apostle Paul’s early days in Acts chapters 8 and 9. Paul wrote much of our New Testament. He traveled about to spread the news of Jesus’ resurrection and started churches in many cities. The Epistles that we have in the New Testament are a collection of letters he wrote to the churches to help instruct them in the way of Christ. His story is an amazing example of how God can change the most destructive life and use it in a beautiful way in His Kingdom.

Feb

Making Valentine Art

Categories: Penny at Home, Penny's Crafts

Comments: 1

On Monday, February 15th, our little art group got together to create another page in our Gratitude Journal. Our topic this time was Valentines, of course! Hannah brought a pile of paper doilies, some shaped as hearts and some round. Its always fun to see each person design their own page in their own way. What great creativity fills this room. Penny was busy inspecting and admiring.

Here we are gathered around the work table in my craft room.

Ariellah, (8) watercolored over her doilies and is now peeling them off. Penny is excited to see the pretty pattern underneath.

The two older girls are carefully creating their masterpieces.

The boys are enjoying the window seat to read in.

Celestia water colored over her heart doily, and is now giving it a stained glass look by outlining the individual shapes. That sure makes it look classy.

Kahlan used a pouncer to ink over her doilies.

Ariellah added a teddy bear, some roses and a list of things she loves and is grateful for.

She writes: “I love my Mom, and my family, and my dogs, and my bear, and my church, and my Bible.”

Hannah’s finished page. I love the intensity and the blending of the colors she used when water coloring.

Celestia’s finished page, “Love is the master key that unlocks the gates of happiness.”

Penny admires Kahlan’s finished page. The soft inked colors are so pretty.

My own page with lots of background stamps, one is a quote by Helen Keller: “The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.”

We all enjoyed raspberry scones afterwards, and Penny enjoyed making her very own wee little ones. Notice also that Penny has a new dress for 2016! She was thrilled when I added the little roses to the waistline.

Clean up time is a breeze with so many helpers, though we always make a tremendous mess! What fun we have doing this together. We are working on a gratitude page each week in our art journals and look forward to seeing the collection we will create by the end of the year.

Jan

Stamping Scripture Cards

Categories: Penny at Home, Penny's Cousins, Penny's Crafts

Comments: No

In September, Penny and I had a neat project to work on together. We got out lots of stamping supplies, ink, and pretty papers, to work on making some Scripture cards in Spanish. Our friend Christine and her family were headed to the Dominican Republic to visit some orphanages. We worked together to make these cards for the orphans.

This verse, Philippians 1:6, in English says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

This is Penny’s friend, Violet, who is helping to make the cards, she will be the one to take the colorful cards to the children in the Dominican Republic.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

On each card we also put the five colors of Penny’s beads. (The Bead Story.)

“Walk in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2

John 10:4 “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

Psalm 31:3 “For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.”

Romans 11:36 “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Together with Christine’s help, and that of Penny and Violet, we made 100 Spanish verse cards. I hope the children will enjoy these pretty cards.

We also made 40 cards in French for a school in Haiti that they would visit as well.

Philippians 1:6 “Je suis persuadé que celui qui a commencé en vous cette bonne œuvre la rendra parfaite pour le jour de Jésus-Christ.”

In English: “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

It was an exciting project, and I had so many favorite designs. I wondered about the children that would receive each card; what was their favorite color, did they like animals or flowers best, trains or teddy bears? Would they hang the card on the wall by their bed? Each child is gifted by God for special things in their future. I wonder what they will become? May God bless each one!