Finally Finished

I started this needlepoint bell pull over 20 years ago. I had it about half way done when I had to stop because of carpal tunnel syndrome. I didn’t want to throw it away after so many hours of work; I stuck it in a plastic bag in a closet. A few years ago I decided to take it with me on vacation trips and do some needlepointing. By the beginning of this year, I had all of the seasons done except winter. 

Finally, while at Amelia Island in February I worked on it while watching the Winter Olympics on TV. I was able to get all of the needlepointing done, but alas when I looked at the directions I realized I was supposed to attach a fabric backing. I had to shop for fabric. Since I don’t have a sewing machine, I attached it all by hand sewing. This week I worked on the top tabs and the tassel. The directions for making the tassel were about as clear as mud. It isn’t the greatest tassel, but it is done. I thought the kit came with a dowel rod but couldn’t find it; my husband made me a very nice rod. Right now I have it hanging on an acrylic over-the-door wreath hanger, but I can see that doesn’t work very well. I think I will get a shorter hanger and then try tying yarn around the ends of the rod to make a loop of yarn to drape over the hanger.

I guess I really am not quite done since I need to work on the hanger. I feel done though, and relieved. This is not a design I would select at this time in my life. I haven’t done any other needlepoint in the intervening years either, just counted cross-stitch and now starting to knit. It is always a good feeling to finish a project though, even one with challenges. Now I can get out my knitting yarn and try some new projects with the yarn I bought at a garage sale.

Who’s Filling the Bowl?

Questions about suffering and loss and how they fit into God’s will enter our minds as we see what fills our beggar’s bowls. I have mostly operated under the idea that suffering is a consequence of living in a fallen world and/or a consequence of individual sin.

Trusting God by Jerry Bridges states that both calamities and good things come from God. He quotes Saint Augustine who said, “Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen: He either permits it to happen or He brings it about Himself.”

I feel bewildered to think of God directly causing suffering. How can He be good and loving if He wills pain for His people? Yet, His plan of salvation included suffering for His Son.

Authors like Philip Yancey try to distinguish among 3 types of “wills” in God’s plan. 1) Intentional (goodness); 2) circumstantial; and 3) ultimate. The Bible teaches God is good and His intent is good so the ultimate must also be good. God uses circumstances to serve His ultimate will. The ultimate will is His own glory and the good of His people.

According to Bridges, all occasions of pain and sorrow are under the absolute control of God. People’s sinful intents and actions serve the sovereign purpose of God, but He does not make them sin. They make the choices. God is not the author of sin.

John Piper in the pdf file available on the internet titled Disability and the Sovereign Goodness of God discusses the man born blind in John 9. Jesus does not focus on the cause of the man’s blindness but on the purpose for the blindness, i.e., to demonstrate the glory of God, in this case thru healing. The explanation of the blindness does not lie in the cause but in the purpose.

Suffering can only have value and meaning in relation to God’s plan.

Bridges says the natural response to adversity is to seek relief, but our greatest need is not freedom from adversity, but freedom from the penalty of sin. If God’s love was sufficient for my greatest need, I need to trust it is sufficient for my lesser needs. Trust means not resigning ourselves to pain and heartbreak, but accepting it as part of God’s purposes and plan.

Most of the writings on suffering by evangelical Christians offer words of advice. Don’t dwell on the why, but focus on how God redeems the pain and uses it for ultimate good. Hard to do because sometimes the suffering lasts a long time, even a lifetime. Often we cannot foresee the outcome, the way God uses adversity.

No matter how limited our understanding of suffering, we do know God is always present with us and sees us thru our adversities. We have to quietly rest in Him and trustingly ingest the hard-to-swallow rations that fill our bowls (lives). I confess when I see no relief, I often fall into resignation. Let’s try to move to thanksgiving that God does have redemptive purposes.

Eureka

I have been looking for something to hold umbrellas, canes, etc. to set next to my front door for 5 or 6 years now. I love the salt-glazed crocks, especially the ones with a blue flower or motif, but they cost hundreds of dollars, way out of my budget. This goal gave me something specific to hone in on when visiting antique stores. I have considered china and metal objects as possibilities; even a tall coal hod. That search ended Friday at Heart of the Lakes Antique Mall in North Webster.

 

While this is not salt-glazed, the bright blue bands go very well with the décor of my living room. I believe this is a butter churn minus its lid and paddle. Notice the “ears” or handles. On the bottom it says R.R.P. Co. Roseville, Ohio. This is not to be confused with Roseville Pottery which made decorative/art objects which are highly collectible. According to the internet, this is Robinson, Ransbottom Pottery Company. It is noted for utilitarian objects. It manufactured pickling crocks and churns and things of that nature until 2005. I really have no way to know how old my churn is. It was not a bargain, but I think I paid a fair price and it was within my budget.

You can clear up any confusion with Roseville Pottery by reading a little history of Robinson, Ransbottom.  

I am pleased to have found this crock. Lest you think I won’t be visiting any more antique stores, there are a few other items on my desiderata list and of course there is always the fun of serendipity. I picked up this retro tablecloth on the same browsing expedition.

Rhubarb Pie Recipe

My friend at church shared with me some rhubarb from her garden. I decided to make my first-ever rhubarb pie using a recipe from Midwest Living magazine. I had 6 cups rather than the 5 in the recipe so added some sugar to compensate for there being more rhubarb. Maybe I should have added a little more tapioca; the pie was a little runny. It did firm up some after being in the refrigerator though. Tasted good.

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca

2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I added cinnamon)

5 cups fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) sliced rhubarb

1 15-oz. package (2 crusts) rolled refrigerated unbaked pie crust [Or make your own]

2 tablespoons butter, cut up

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon water

Sugar to sprinkle on crust

 

1. In a large bowl, combine the 1 cup sugar, the tapioca, orange peel, and cinnamon. Add rhubarb. Gently toss to coat. Cover; let stand 15 minutes, stirring once.

2. Unroll pastry circle into a 9-inch pie plate.

3. Spoon rhubarb mixture into pastry-lined pie plate. Dot with butter.

4. Place remaining pastry circle on filling. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of plate. Fold top pastry edge under bottom pastry. Crimp edge as desired. Cut slits in pastry to allow steam to escape.

5. In a small bowl, combine beaten egg and water; brush lightly over pastry. Sprinkle pastry with sugar.

6.To prevent over browning, cover edge of pie with foil. Place a foil-lined baking sheet on oven rack below pie.

7. Bake pie in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil. Bake for another 25 minutes or until top is golden and center of filling is bubbly. Serve warm, or cool completely on wire rack.

Peonies

It is peony time in Indiana. My neighbor has lovely flowers this time of year. I am so happy to view her blooms from my house. I did walk closer to take these photos, but I can enjoy the peonies from my patio and through my bedroom windows.

 

God has surrounded us with so much beauty.