All posts in Better Check Out Links

Souleio (with friends) !

by admin on June 27, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, People In My Heart with 1 Comment


I have been doing the poker ladies thing for years now and once a year we get together at a nice restaurant. It is always fun to explore fine dining! Souleio was very different and beautiful. It is in an old building in the middle of a forgotten part of down town. You hardly notice it if you don’t know it is there but once you walk in you never forget it. It has market goods too and all sorts of local and organic quality items. Just exploring what they have on their shelves is fun and exciting. I found a jar of apple pickles there last time and chai spiced prunes that I would like to explore by buying and opening the jars. All the preserves get me! They are so unique and inviting!It also has a large menu and offers family meal take out and wine tasting. There is a deli, a selection of cheese and bakery on site.

( I have had this amazing spring salad before, it is a FAVORITE of mine!)
(Mmmmmmm mango pie!)
(We all know what this is! And my sister Mirelle said is was really good!)

The food is as captivating as the building. After looking around you order and sit to eat and then all you can think about is each mouthful!The conversation was also fabulous! I really enjoy getting to go out with such great ladies!

TTFN

Silhouette Portraits

by admin on June 12, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, Four Little Eggs In My Nest with 3 Comments
(Perhaps I am just feeling old today, but I love this above silhouette, it reminds me of a younger side of me!)

I have been thinking often about Victorian style silhouette portraits... and how I would love to have one of each of my children before they get much bigger. Click on the above link to see a picture of what I am talking about. I am trying to decide how to go about it… I just love them and hope this will be a successful future project, just not too far in the future…TTFN

June’s Hymn!

by admin on June 4, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, The Hymn Project with No comments

I barely had time to focus at all on last months hymn, another I will have to return to. This month I determined to shape up. Tonight I sacrificed tea time to find a hymn that was ment for me right now. I wanted plenty of time with it as I tasted it carefully for the first time. I am so thankful I did.

This months hymn drew my attention because it had simple lyrics that where a good reminder for this stubborn heart of mine. When I turned on the music I knew it was THE song for this month. The music turned seemingly simple words strung together into truth, encouragement and beauty. It is so pretty and earnest.

‘I Must Tell Jesus’ was written by Elisha Albright Hoffman , click on his name to find a biographical write up. I recognized another of his hymns, ‘Are You Washed In The Blood Of The Lamb’, right away. A few others like ‘What A Wonderful Savior’ are also very pretty.

This hymn feels so right I don’t think it will take much for me to learn it:)

TTFN

Laughing at Myself and Crying Over Myself

by admin on April 19, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME with No comments

Can you do both at the same time? Yup. Often happens when you take a good look at yourself. Was contemplating the concept ‘working out your salvation with fear and trembling’ and it brought me back, back to the last time I deeply considered that verse and considered the need I had for a good heart spring cleaning.

If there had been room I would have also added to the above title “And A Blast From The Not So Distant Past” because I realised some of the same old stuff was cluttering up my heart.

Wow I was wondering why I had been feeling so dark lately and it hit me that I am still a person who fears change greatly when it relates to relationships. Change in relationships often means FAILURE to me… I greatly fear letting people down and hurting them!

I thank God that he lead me to a post I made during a moment of awakening about this very same fear of mine.

~Esther de Waal in To Pause at the Threshold: Reflections on Living on the Border
“There comes a time when the things that were undoubtedly good and right in the past must be left behind, for there is always the danger that they might hinder us from moving forward and connecting with the one necessary thing, Christ himself.”

I am praying for a soft and loving heart toward what ever Christ has planned this time… praying I will not fight it but will trust my Lord.

P.s. This song has been following me around and I finally found out who it is (kept hearing it on the radio) playing it… if you have the time check out Sanctus Real and their song Whatever You’re Doing, it is amazingly reflective of how I am feeling.

TTFN

April’s Hymn (Yes I Did Remember)

by admin on April 10, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, The Hymn Project with No comments

Although I wouldn’t have recognized her name before today I have, today, realized I am a great fan of Eliza Edmonds Hewitt (click on her name to find a small biographical write up). For a bigger write up about her click HERE. I might have to learn a couple more of her songs before spring is over for she has a passion for comparing the beautiful elements of our faith with the beautiful flowers in nature.

I have chosen her song Lower and lower, dear Lord, at Thy feet, the highlighted letters will take you to an audio version with lyrics.

I must be honest and say I chose this one purely on the melancholy sound of the piano music. I couldn’t find it in my hymnal as of yet but when I saw her name on another song I looked up her works and chose this one for April. Whether I need the soothing melancholy of this song because of weather (we are having a snow storm outside right now) or because of life experiences of present I know not but I teared up as I read her words and it was then an easy choice.

TTFN

Victoria Awake (the album)

by admin on March 8, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, Music Flavor, People In My Heart with No comments

How can I not announce this for my big brother and gush a bit! I am so proud of Aaron (my brother) and Mike, a long time family friend, they are just so creative and passionate about their music!

Check out the above link and then feel free to support my older brother and his pal Mike by purchasing the new Victoria Awake album “High Hopes & Half Smiles”. The album is a minimum $6 purchase, but this site allows you to name your price and tip if you’re feeling generous. You also get to chose from several high quality audio formats. Don’t feel like buying …right now, you can stream the entire album from beginning to end online for free! Avoiding iTunes for the time being in order to avoid excessive admin costs.

TTFN

February’s Hymn

by admin on February 2, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, The Hymn Project with 2 Comments

Wow February is here! It hit me, while sitting on my rocking chair, that I need to pick a new hymn for my project! “Blessed Quietness” (“Joys are flowing like a river / Since the Comforter has come”) (1897)
Lyrics by Manie Payne Ferguson

After my previous post I felt it reflected my mood. It seems like it will be a little more challenging then the last but has a really pretty sound to it! Click on the authors name above to find out all about her.

Is this hymn new to you too? Listen to the music at the link on my side panel, down a bit.

Are you familiar with it and can carry a tune? I would love you to advise me then. I have to learn it mostly by ear so I sometimes wonder if I am getting the exact vocal tune right.

I determined to do nothing really today, even ignoring the baskets of laundry needing folding, but this was a pleasant event that came up! I am enjoying this project!

TTFN

How to Celebrate February 14 Every Day of the Year

by admin on February 1, 2010 in Better Check Out Links, Marriage Monday, My Romance with 13 Comments

Share how you and your husband make each and every day of your marriage special. What are your daily relationship rituals? How do you nurture the “us” factor? Tell us the big or little things that make your marriage sing like a fine-tuned violin.

Enjoy the links (words in blue) to past posts labeled MY ROMANCE!

  1. Make calm times, every day, for the two of you so you can share and listen to one another TOPS MY LIST!
  2. Plan to flirt!
  3. Purposely appreciate one another and reward one another with touch!
  4. Be realistic but ready to embrace every little opportunity together!

1st Monday Every Month at Chrysalis
Want this button?

TTFN

I Am From!

by admin on January 26, 2010 in Better Check Out Blogs, Better Check Out Links, Bits Of My Personality, Life Keeps Changing, People In My Heart with 5 Comments

For E-Mom… This is the best I could do, thought about it for a few days and when you commented today I thought I should just put it up…

I am from cheese cloth, from co-op freshie and early’s seeds.

I am from the forest; a sleepy, weedy creek meandering towards my future.

I am from the bed rock, the wild pink rose.

I am from evening family Bible studies, days full of milking goats, chopping wood, harvesting corn and fire-y tempers;

From Robin and Katherine and Nanny.

I am from big talkers, and bigger singing voices!

From ‘you alone decide you will be happy’ and ‘family must work and play together’.

I am from Holy Ghost filled folk, revival tent meetings and Bible thump’n, Jesus lov’n parents!

I’m from the great white north, Scottish pride, Irish wit, Welsh respect and a little English that they will not admit, shortbread like grandma always made it and pans of venison lasagna from my mom’s heart to our stomachs shined at every occasion, especially my wedding!

From the grandmother who was the first in town to wear pants and the mother who traded in her high heals and comfy bank job for the army. Grandmother was a feminine tomboy and down right practical. Her garden boots just went better with pants! Mother had a lot to prove due to her small size and reputation as a girly-girl, no one would dare call either that now!

I am from Grandma Smith’s quilt on my couch, Her earrings in my jewelry box, Mom’s red dress coat in my closet and anything else that speaks to me of the strong women in my line. They speak, reminding me to be as brave and determined as my grandmother, as open and true as my mom and as beautiful in spirit as my daughters.

TTFN

January’s Hymn

by admin on January 15, 2010 in Better Check Out Blogs, Better Check Out Links, My Year of Right Sacrifice-TIME, The Hymn Project with 2 Comments
After my morning walk with all the kids to the bus stop I am filled with energy. Lungs full of fresh air I load up the audio clip I found and practice my new (well, new to me) hymn.

Check out my previous post to learn more about where THE HYMN PROJECT started.

MY METHOD_______________________

My method is simple, flip through the old hymnal I have till I spot one I don’t know. Once I have a look at the lyrics and find something that moves me I look it up on a couple different sites I know of that have the audio and the lyrics so I can learn the tune (I can’t read music). I then sing it through about once a day so I know it well by the end of the month.

MY CHOICE________________________

I chose from the peace and joy section of my hymnal for January’s hymn and came up with ‘Loved with Everlasting Love‘, written by James Mountain, please click on the authors name to link to an article from a favorite blog of mine on the author. I have to say, the authors name caught my interest too. I hadn’t heard of James Mountain before.

MY JOY___________________________

This is proving to be a lovely goal and interesting project for me. I grew up only knowing a few hymns. I think choruses where far more common in my church background. I am finding many hymns move me because of their wonderful poetic lyrics! I also love history so looking up the hymns and authors has been very enjoyable for me too!

Here is the site I found the audio for this hymn; http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/284 . I just noticed this site also has an option to get the guitar chords… hmmm… maybe this will encourage me to pick up my guitar and start playing again… maybe…

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.
My Favorite Verse From January’s Hymn

TTFN

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →