Outside, Inside, On A Plate

About 23 years ago my Daughter's grandfather had passed away on her father's side of the family. We packed up the car and the kids and prepared for a long trip across country.  We only had three days to reach our destination and I just didn't know how we were going to accomplish this. It was a day and night drive for 3 days.  God only knows how we made it in that time frame with a car load of kids.  The only break I do remember from that drive is stopping in Colorado.  I can't even remember if it was the side of the road or a rest stop, all I do remember are the rocks.  My Daughter's father was so intrigued by these rocks that he loaded up the car with quite a few of them.  I was in awe that he was actually loading the car with rocks. It wasn't until we got back home that the rocks were pulled out of the trunk and put on a shelf for display, that I really started looking at them and even today I can look at them and remember that trip like it was yesterday.  23 years later, I am still collecting rocks on the side of the road.  Whenever we travel, or go to an event there is something about collecting something from nature that brings me closer to God.  I guess it makes it feel more material and real, that God is truly there with me.  God created it, so there must be a part of God in there.

Of course, I have to add my own touch, to say, hey I exist.  I am here, don't forget about me.  Out comes the the hook and thread and I crochet over the rock. It is not a planned pattern.  The rock could sit there for months or even years before I pick it up a start to crochet.  Maybe it is an expression of the trip or how I am feeling at the given moment.  Maybe it is a way for me to talk to God or bring me closer.  Was this my true calling, that I perhaps missed?

I feel the same way about the walls in my home.  I am very grateful that I have home and walls to protect me.  Walls in a home are like a canvas.  I was so pleasantly surprised when my Daughter decided to pull out her art and display it on my walls.  She hung her work and surrounded her work with a piece that I created using magazine pages.  Is that her way of saying hey, I am here, I exist?

One of my favorite meals is a stew that my Mother always made.  Stew is just basically a bunch of whatever you like thrown together.  I like to cook it in the slow cooker as my mother did.  The only difference is she didn't use water as the liquid, she used canned tomatoes.  A bowl of stew, sitting on a plate with bread surrounding it is so satisfying. 

LaVonne's Stew

1 pound of stew meat

2 15 oz cans of stewed tomatoes

3 potatoes quartered

2 cans of veg-all (undrained)

1 can of your favorite vegetable (undrained)

Salt

Pepper

Put the meat in the slow cooker and turn on high.  Lightly brown the meat.  Add all other ingredients and set on low/medium for 6  to 8 hours.  

You can always add more spices, or more of your favorite vegetables.   

Ham Hocks

I do love getting up early in the morning. My grandmother always did. When I would spend the summer with my grandparents, I would get up with her. No words were spoken it was and still is as she said, "The most peaceful time of the day". A time to hear your inner voice without distraction. The calm and peace of it all really puts a different perspective on life.

As I start my first day of the new year, I brew my coffee, I go in to check on my Daughter and we tell each other, I love you, and I sit quietly and listen to my inner voice. No big decisions, no worries, no task at hand, just Peace.....

Some of my most creative thoughts come from the early morning beginnings and with that said, I need to put together the ham bone and beans. I don't think they really bring good luck but it is a tradition and it always seems right to stick with it, it does bring back some wonderful memories.

I bought myself a potholder loom yesterday, I think I can take this to a new level. I think it will be a great why to re-purpose tee shirts, bed sheets and other materials into potholders, fabric panels, and help me work with colors. This year, I am focusing on socks and the potholder loom is a way for me to recycle socks and hosiery that would otherwise ind up in the trash.

I will still be putting together other patterns and projects, but the sock is my main focus, then again it could change. Once I get going, and take a step outside, ideas come to mind, with what someone said, something I passed by, or something i heard and I am known to drop everything and put it to life. Hopefully, my pattern writing will get better over the next year.

With all this said, I am going to take a quiet moment and then take a step outside.. I hope you can join me with the Joy Dare Challenge and I hope your New Year will be a prosperous and healthy one.