Stuff.....

ThAnKyOu  for all the the beautiful comments on my blogaversary/blog birthday post...........11 years is a lot of memories.........blog friends have come and gone to the darkside or disappeared altogether so I appreciated all those that still blog and I have lots on my list still...............I updated my pic from that post to my header...........

Life is a little hectic with a quick trip away for a family funeral.............this bible above is a family bible............given to an ancestor many generations back i'm not sure of the line as it's Mr Chookys side...... the ancestor was given this bible on his 52nd birthday from his mother......way back in 1879.....there is currently 4 generations alive.........

so it was a very long way and very quick trip............

along the way we saw some wind farms................

they are huge..........

missed the pic but I did get some EPP stitching done on the way home................

I'm a little busy over the next week........so blog posts will be quick phone ones or none at all...........

Also a little busy and terribly excited about Scrub Stitchin'.............all the fabrics have arrived for the little kits.........secret plans are still being squirreled away with my partner in secrets Sonia @ Forever Always........

I've been trying to work out what I want to take..........

some hand stitching and some machine....

we still have a few beds if anyone is interested.............

39 sleeps to go.......

then it will be 4 days of fun.......all meals prepared....no cooking or cleaning involved just heaps of chatting and stithin'

And I signed up for March Charge (Cancer Council walking fundraiser) again...........was still thinking what to do when I found out a special feathered friend has cancer so that made my final decision..........we've lost two family members to cancer in the last few months.......

I've commited to 4kms/day..........lets see what I can do.......I set 3kms/day last year and did stacks more.............

I know Julie @ Simple Stitches is doing it too......

So as usual I have tooo much going on........but you only get one crack at life so need to fit in as much as possible........

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.......

Taking Salads In A Jar to Friends In Need

Maybe you've been a recipient of a Meal Ministry or maybe you have made a meal to bring to someone going through a rough time. Either way, taking someone a meal is a ministry that has been a standard of Christian hospitality and service. 

Why Take A Meal

Usually, when something major happens in the life of a friend or family member you want to do whatever you can to help. Unfortunately, when you are watching a friend go through a difficult time, you feel helpless. The small things that you actually can do to help feel like nothing important. However, even doing small things like taking someone a meal can just send a message that you noticed their needs and care about them. While making a meal for someone can save them the time and money, it can also let them know that you see them and what they are going through, that you love them and want to do something to help.

Romans 12:10-13 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

1 Peter 4:9-11 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and  dominion forever and ever. Amen.

When To Take A Meal

• After a couple has their first baby
• Following a surgery or illness
• For a housewarming gift
• An elderly person who is having trouble cooking for themselves
• When a family (without children) is grieving

What To Take For A Meal

Great options for a meal to take include:

• Soups (chicken noodle, chili, beef stew...)
• Lasagna or pasta dishes
• Pot Roast
• Casserole
• Quiche
• Casseroles
• Or check out some ideas on Pinterest

Don't forget to take:

• Food packed in disposable containers, so they don't need to keep track of your dish
• Any directions for preparing the food
• A side dish (bread, vegetables, potatoes, or even a fruit salad)

And consider sending:

• Paper plates so they won't have to do dishes
• A dessert
• The recipe so they can make the meal again if they loved it

What To Consider When Choosing A Meal

Every family has different opinions on foods they like or don't like. Here are some things to consider when you are cooking for another family.

• Food Allergies - not only should you not send a food if the family has a member with an allergy, but you should clean your cooking area well to be sure you don't contaminate the food with traces of that food
• Dietary Restrictions - low fat, gluten-free, dairy-free - some people have food intolerances or other food restrictions based on health issues
• Food Preferences - vegan, vegetarian, dislikes (some of the most common ones are seafood, blue cheese, liver, and broccoli, and olives)
• Children - if the family has children, you may consider making meals that are more kid-friendly like spaghetti instead of a chicken broccoli casserole

A Different Idea

Sometimes you need a different idea. Maybe all of your ideas are taken by others or you need something with different dietary restrictions. So I decided to send some salads in a jar. 

Salads in a Jar are perfect for:

• First-time moms and dads
• Families with children not eating solid foods yet
• Single adults
• Couples without children
• Seniors
• Vegetarians or vegans

How To Make A Salad In A Jar

Salads in a Jar are very easy to make, especially in quantities. I use wide mouth canning jars with plastic storage lids. I line the jars up on the counter and then I layer in the following:

• Salad dressings, sauces, salsa, sour cream... anything wet
• Hard vegetables or fruit (carrots, onions, apples...)
• Soft vegetables or fruit (tomatoes, kiwi...)
• Meats or protein (chicken, beef, shrimp, tofu...)
• Cheese or hardboiled eggs
• Beans, grains (quinoa, couscous, rice...), or pasta
• Nuts or seeds
• Greens

Store any crunchy toppings (croutons, tortilla strips, wonton strips, cheese crisps...) in a separate storage bag or container.

You can use whatever recipe or combination you want. Chicken Caesar salad, steak gorgonzola salad, taco salad, BLT salad, or BBQ southwest salad. The possibilities are endless.

You only need to store the jars upright and they easily last 3-5 days. Then, when you are ready to eat them, shake it and add any crunchy toppings from your separate storage bag or container.

Gifting a Salad In a Jar

When you make a salad jar as a gift or to take as a meal ministry, make one jar for each person in the household. Then, add these tags with a hole punch and a ribbon so that they know how to reuse the jars to make salads for themselves.

I've recently gifted these... twice. They both were well received.

11 years on.....................

Wow too busy yesterday I missed my blog birthday............

Monday 19th Feb..........

11 years ago it was also Monday 19th Feb 2007...........

It has been one of joy, connection, friendship................

I have met some amazing lovely special people virtually and some eventually in real life........

I dream of a world trip to meet some of my friends overseas...........

I've been inspired to try different things, different techniques, colours, 

its been the fun of swaps, Stitch-a-longs, blog meets, virtual retreats, 

But the most important thing is you out there reading...............while this is a record for me of my life on here..........

If you didn't stop read and comment I would probably not be here..............

I love the connections I have made with like minded people...........

something I didn't have here where I live and still don't really...........

So I thank you my readers..........

my wonderful virtual friends........

Catch you later............

Chookyblue.............

Remember to keep the love of blogging alive................

So nice to so feral.....

the day started off just gorgeous.............

from this to this in 2 mins......

my screen was not big enough to capture it for you it was so big and so amazing I was in awe..........so pleased I had turned around to shut the gate..............

then when the sun was about to rise about 10 mins later the clouds behind the mountains were just outlined at the top with the bright light............

the the power had already gone off for ages at work so we finally left and a dust storm was hitting town as I left...................

early on my road home it was down to 50m visibility due to the dust.......it then improved..........i had some rain...........then dust again and at times both together..............

The verendahs are beyond disgusting..........off to start vacumning now.............

the temps dropped from 37 in town to 23 in the car when I got home..............

How could a day start so pretty and end so feral............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue........

The good and the bad.......

I'm glad the emailing pics to your blog posts has helped some of you girls...........

Also I know we are all busy so I thank those who take the time to visit and comment on my blog.........

bad - the sheep chasing me for food............need to start feeding...AGAIN.....

good - the churn dash rows are coming together..........

Have a great week........its going to be a little cooler here low 30's will be glorious.......

Catch you later...

Chookyblue.......

Fancy stitching......

Before we start I did not make this.......

 I just got to see it....... and doesn't it look beautiful in the chair..............

I know both the lady who made it and the lucky one who now owns it.........

Simple beauty.............attention to detail...............Just look at all the gorgeous stitched flowers........

Catch you later.....

Chookyblue.....

Bible Verses for Blessed Be Your Name

Life always has plenty of ups and downs. The difficulty in all of it is remembering the Lord. Remembering to praise his for His blessings. Remembering to trust Him through the difficult times and praise Him even if...

Some of the these beautiful "Even If" moments are found in these verses:

After all the tragedy in Job's life, Job says in Job 13:15 �Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.�

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are faced with going through the fire, they say in Daniel 3:17-18 �If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.�

After Habakkuk hears about the coming judgment on Israel, he says in Habakkuk 3:16-19 I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds� feet, and makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.

Blessed Be Your Name

by Matt Redman and Beth Redman

Verse 1:
Blessed be Your Name in the land that is plentiful.
Where Your streams of abundance flows, blessed be Your name.

Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

Deuteronomy 26:10-11 Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O Lord have given me.� And you shall set it down before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God; and you and the Levite and the alien who is among you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household. 

Blessed be Your Name when I'm found in this desert place.
Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed Be Your name.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Pre-Chorus:
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 Otherwise, you may say in your heart, �My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.� But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.�

When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say...

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Chorus:
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name.

Daniel 2:20 Daniel said, �Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.�

Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.

Psalm 72:18-19 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.

Verse 2:
Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me.
When the world's all as it should be, blessed be Your name.

James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering.
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name.

Psalm 42:5 Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Bridge:
You give and take away. You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name.

Job 1:21 He said, �Naked I came from my mother�s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.�

Start and end....

Sunrise was stunning..........

so quickly it changes

10 mins later............

I headed off walking and the light was still creating amazing things 15mins later................real life is even better.............

And not to be outdone by the sunrise here is the  sunset............

And really I never take for granted these amazing sights even though I get them all the time.............Another hot one today.........When I walked this afternoon it was 38 deg........we only walked in the shade..............

Enjoy what is around you............

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue.....

Finally........

After harassing the post man for weeks I emailed the blog book people to say my parcel is lost....... Apparently they get delivered by TNT now in Australia...... Very annoying since they never deliver to my house....... And it had been sitting in a depot for weeks....no one told me it was there....... Lucky they had not returned it.....

So sitting flicking thru with a coffee........in my comfy adirondack chair thanks to Sonia @Forever Always........ I love my books and love looking back thru my blog..... Much easier then the computer screen.......oh the memories....... 

Catch you later......

Chookyblue......

Changes......

We had so much trouble with the windmill the last year and with no rain we had massive water issues...........

when you live where we live no ground water = no sheep and cows = no farm income.........

We bit the bullet so to speak and pulled up the windmill pipes and installed solar panels and new pump..........we always have sun and it will pump anytime during the day water levels start to drop in the tanks..........wind at times is unreliable here......we can get by when we have water in the dams but when that  is gone and we need to water many more paddocks on the farm then we could not get enough water...........and the bonus is I a have a little extra water for my garden..........the windmill stand will stay there absolutely useless but I love seeing a windmill...........

I snapped this photo on my walk this morning........

out with the old in with the new..........

today I did my 10 mins on the machine and then cut some more "Edwardsia" blocks.........then it was far to hot in the Chookshed even with the air con on so we moved back inside to continue and the much better air con...........

And my friend Kylie @ Indigo and Quince was visiting for the night and she remembered this trip to bring her EPP........she had it packed last time and left it all on the bench at home..........

BUT this is a girl who was NOT i repeat NOT going to get into EPP..............but she keeps visiting and slowly I have turned her into a fan..........and she has started a second EPP quilt.......she found this one in the USA I think and I just can't remember the name at the minute but it is lovely.........and she is very addicted........she was never going to make an EPP quilt let alone in browns...........HHHEEEE guess I won............

She has to make 12 blocks and I saw two and i'm loving it also.........

&&&&&

it's a stinker here today so nice to be hanging out inside in the air con watching the winter olympics..........go Aussies...........

Enjoy your weekend......

Catch you later......

Chookyblue......

The big smoke.....

A quick trip to the city for a concert .......

As we were coming down from the mountains into the city the moon was rising..........see just there to the left near the tree.....sorry about the pic but we were driving in on the freeway so its a quick snap but OMG it was huge and stunning..........

As we were going down I brought a coupe of old sewing machines on ebay............the pick up was Annandale...............I have the best friend and she drives me everywhere in the city..........especially if we find some nice little cafe to have breakfast too........but she reminded me we had been to that suburb before to go to a quilt shop............OMG she is the best friend...........I had forgotten about Quiltsmith.............

Liked this fabric pack.........it was a starter kit for a quilt...........was so tempted to buy it............

I was inquiring about octagon papers and the lady at the shop brought out this quilt she has been making..................its different to what I am doing but I love it..........

This is a quilt they had in summer school..........really liked it too...............
So much choice of fabric at Quiltsmith

I was so overwhelmed with choice I just got some shirtings..............

I've had my eye on this book for a little while.............

So then since we were so close I asked my girlfriend if we could go home via Material Obsessions.............

the shops are very different which is great..........

I spied Kathys new range "Horizons"
I had seen a few quilts made with this fabric online.............

this one was hanging behind the counter.............

I had seen Racheldaisy's quilt on her blog.............but it was great to see it in person.................

So I just had to buy a little bit of fabric to bring home with me................
windmills, magpies, barb wire, gum leaves and blossoms, emus............
so great to see an Aussie range grasping our bush..........
Well done Kathy...........

I have a few ideas in my head but I think I need a little solid fabric to match...........

As for the concert..................it was great.......Red Hot Summer tour at Bella Vista Farm............Lots of good old bands...........Suzi Quatro was a head line act and OMG she was great.............If I have her energy when i am 67 i'll be so happy............she was fantastic and did not stop the whole time she was on stage............
Catch you later.......

Chookyblue......

Love in the Bible

The world tells us a lot about what it believes love is. It says that love is a strong emotion that is more important than all else. That it comes and goes as it wants and we can't control it. That it should be easy and pleasant, not hard work. Here are some quotes from the world's view about love:

"The heart wants what it wants. There's no logic to these things. You meet someone and you fall in love and that's that." - Woody Allen

"Some people think that it�s holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it�s letting go." - Herman Hesse

�Love yourself first and everything else falls into line. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.� � Lucille Ball

This is very different from what love is in the Bible. The Bible displays love as a choice, a decision. It is putting others before yourself. 

Here is a printable with Bible verses about love in the Bible.  Study the verses and highlight or underline what it is saying about love or add some notes. You can contrast them with the world's view of love. Then, you can cut out the verses and put them in piles categorizing them by their main point. That may point out some of the strongest points the Bible is trying to make about love.



Feel free to print this out and use it with your Bible study group, Sunday School class, or small group. Or use it with your children (whether you homeschool or not). Or just study what the Bible says about love on your own. You can share it with others by printing it or by sharing it online, just please share a link to this page rather than a direct link to the printable on Google drive. 

emailing photos to your blog................

the last few months I see there are a few people having issues uploading photos to their blogs...............

I posted this help thingy way back in 2009..............

the link......Emailing pics to your post

This is how I have blogged for about 10 years.............quick easy and it works well for me..........email the pics......edit the draft post and publish.............so easy for me...........
Catch you later................
Chookyblue...........

Edwardsia early progress......

Joining as I go...... I'll have to mix up my colours as I make them..... 

Did a big 5km walk and my 7minute workout app this morning...... Including a steep hill..... 

Lots of gorgeous frangipanis in flower....... 

Catch you later.......

Chookyblue......

Stitching time.....

Epp is going well once again..... Into Edwardsia....... It's growing...... As opposed to Lucy I am not making the blocks then thinking about the joining....... It's all happening at once......

It's been a great day but I have to tell you about it later......

Catch you later......

Chookyblue.......

God Controls The Season Children's Lesson

I taught this Bible/science lesson about the four seasons to a group of kids from 3 years - 4th grade. The first section included the preschool age children, but the second section is geared more towards upper elementary.

God Controls The Seasons

Introduction:

I introduced the topic of seasons with a kids video. I used one from Harry Kindergarten, but you could use a different one. 

If you don't have a way to show a video, you can sing a song like one from this webpage. 

Four Seasons Flip Book:

I used this four seasons flip book as a short, easy activity to help the kids learn more about the seasons. This was focused on the younger students (I had a preschooler who could use a little more review on what the seasons were).

Act Out The Seasons:
Have the children act out the seasons in the following scenarios:

• Be a tree through the four seasons.
• Be the weather through the four seasons
• Be a bear through the four seasons.

Seasonal Clothing Race:
Form teams of four for a relay race. Lay out the seasonal clothing at the other end of the room. The first person on each team races to the other end of the room and puts on the Spring items. Then, they return to tag the next person in line who races down and puts on the Summer items. The race continues through the items for all four seasons. The first team to race through all four seasons wins.

4 Seasons Tree:

Print out 4 copies of the tree printable on cardstock for each child. Have the kids decorate a tree for each season. Then fold them all in half and glue the backs of all four together in order of the seasons.  Here is how I did them: 

• Spring - stamp on pink paint with the bottom of a small soda bottle
• Summer - stamp green ink with a leaf stamp
• Fall - glue on pieces of orange and red colored tissue paper
• Winter - glue on pieces of cotton balls for snow (maybe even make a snowman)

If you don't have the supplies for these or if you have a Cricut, you can easily switch up some of these ideas. Just watch that you don't add too much dimension to the trees because the cardstock will need to be folded.

• stamp paint or ink with q-tips, individually or bundled with a rubber band
• stamp paint with a potato stamp
• place stickers or foam stickers of leaves, flowers, or snowflakes
• make flowers by gluing on puffy tissue paper 
• color with crayons or markers
• add color with thumbprint painting
• glue on green or fall-colored leaves cut out of construction paper

God Controls The Seasons - For Older Kids

Introduction:
I introduced the science behind seasons by showing a Crash Course YouTube video. These videos are great because they are fun, but introduce the concepts in a simple way.

Model the Seasons:

Use a globe and a flashlight, lantern, or lamp without a shade to model the seasons. Show how the globe is tilted and how that affects the sunlight hitting the globe at the four "corners" around the sun. If you are unfamiliar with the concept you can check out this video on how it works.

The Earths Tilt is the Reasons for Seasons Printable:

Print the worksheet and have the students fill out the worksheet introducing the ideas of solstice and equinox. Then, use a highlighter to show where the sun�s most direct light falls on the globe

God Made The Seasons Printable: 

Print out this printable and have the students look up the verses and match them with the concept supported by each verse. 




Discuss the Purpose of the Seasons: 
Ask these questions and help lead the students to the answers.

• Why are there days and nights? (to spread out the warmth of the sun East and West)
• Why are there seasons? (to spread North and South)
• How do seasons affect where humans can live on earth? (it spreads out where people can live so that there are more inhabitable areas that would otherwise be too cold or too hot)
• How do seasons affect weather? (some places have rainy and dry seasons) 
• How does it affect agriculture? (some plants require the cold of winter to grow again, it also makes growing seasons) 
• How do the seasons affect insect population? (bugs die or go dormant in the cold - this stops insect-borne diseases)
• How did God equip plants and animals for seasons? (some plants going dormant, some animals hibernate)

Here is a printout of the whole lesson, but feel free to pick and choose from the activities for what best fits your students and your time. You can also check out my pinterest board on this subject.

If you liked this activity, check out my God Controls The Weather Bible Lesson.