Category Archives: Only the Short

Short Posts

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Build the Boat

There is a parable of sorts that goes around about a religious man watching the flood waters rising. Rather than getting into the rescue boats or helicopter, he keeps saying God will save him. At the Pearly Gates he asks why he was not saved. The answer he receives is that two boats and a helicopter were sent.

In truth, the answer should have been, “Why didn’t you seek divine assistance and build yourself the boat before the flood?”

With divine help, we can build the boat and then when the flood waters rise, we can seek to assist those in need rather than waiting to be assisted by our fellow man.

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Faith

As we seek a greater understanding, even a perfect knowledge, there is no need to forsake the faith of a child.

These are but one and the same rather than being something different. The child believes whereas the adult seeks to prove. If it is of God, whether given or inspired by God, the belief and the proof are the same.

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Buzzing in just in time…

Having seen a number of these little guys buzzing around Facebook recently, I decided I needed one for myself. Meet Lil’ Miss Boobee and ornament for the season.

Requests for her pattern followed quickly after she made her debut. So gathering up my courage, I have tried once again to write a pattern. You can download the pdf here Lil Miss Boobee

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Unlike the pattern for the little fruit posted the other day, this one is not necessarily basic. It requires a couple new stitches and a bit more careful reading. Nothing too hard, but certainly not nearly as simple as a sphere. Yet, the fun this one brings (especially as people say her name out loud) is worth the extra work.

 

Happy crocheting!

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Saith Me… Ministering to the Needs

Ministering to the needs of others requires an open mind, a loving heart, and unfettered time.

Unlike in the structured world of employment, ministering in not as much about solving problems as it is about providing what is needed.

Identifying a problem is easy; identifying a need is much more complicated. Sometimes the need may be as simple as having someone take the time to listen.

Problems are so much easier to solve after the needs are addressed – after the time, love, and companionship is freely given.

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Emoji Fruit Ornaments

I have found that basic patterns are sometimes the hardest to find, especially for free. This can make teaching a skill troublesome when simple and basic are required. Young and old, there are times when a bit more step-by-step help is needed in order to gain success. I know that on my fibro fog days, I require an easy-to-follow pattern, one that can act as a check list to cross off as I go.

Years ago I worked up a few dozen quilting patterns that I could use when I was giving tutorials on basic quilting for beginners. Now I find I am doing the same thing in crochet. So here is my first pattern and I hope a few more will arrive in the next weeks and months.

Emoji Fruit Ornaments pdf download

The pattern has instruction for the fruit, but the bat wings and cat ears can easily be made from craft felt or free form crochet.

 

 

Emoji Fruit Ornaments - pattern pic

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I also made a lemon by adding an extra round of single crochet at the beginning and the end to make the ends pointed.

 

I hope my efforts help others, and that more skilled pattern writers and crochet artisans forgive me for any bobbles and flubs this pattern may contain.

 

 

A final note: In case anyone wonders, the white one is a snowball. Not a fruit, but he was lonely all by himself.

 

 

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Unfollow, restrict, unfriend, block: the value of remaining Facebook friends versus the value of separation.

I keep asking myself about the difference between Facebook and the old fashioned social world were I was always advised to choose my friends wisely. Guilt by association is a real thing in some societal circles.

Do we follow the same rules in a social media world? Do we remain Facebook friends with those we would never want to socialize with in person?

If we ignore behavior on Facebook, or things we find unsavory, are we enabling or validating the people with whom we associate any more or less than we do in the workplace, the school, the store, the neighborhood?

Unfollow, restrict, unfriend, block: the value of remaining FB friends versus the value of separation.

It is something to ponder.