Monday Message

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’ (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors, and support bishops as they care for others." (All is Safely Gathered In pamphlet)

The weather here has definitely changed to colder. Winter is coming, ready or not.

Somehow I am wired differently...I do my spring cleaning in the fall. As I was working, I thought I remember cleaning this time of year the past two years. I think if I go look in my journals I would see it has been every year. I don't know exactly why I do it in the fall instead of in the spring, except that I know winter is a cozy time but also a stuck inside time and I would rather be doing fun than cleaning and organizing during then. So if I get things all in order now, I can just be cozy then.

That said I have been deep cleaning and organizing and rearranging to make everything more cozy and uncluttered and a place ready for the fun things I do. This morning while listening to the news, snuggled warm and cozy in my blankets, I thought I pray for all but how can we actually change the awfulness that is everywhere it seems? I thought instantly that at least I can make my home a cheerful and happy place, warm and cozy, so that is my goal. The rest I pray, as that is something I can do. Everything is in turmoil, needless death and horrors of war. Right now I can make my space peaceful and uplifting, a refuge for all who come into it, and pray for all.

Concentrating on that, with peaceful things in mind, will be my plan for the winter.

So here are the pictures of my house I have been working on this week.

It started with straightening this bookshelf. I have sock yarn at the top, then watercolor books and paper on the right and needlework books to the left.

Next, I tidied up my knitting machines getting the one ready so I can review and learn it better. It is the Toyota, the longer one is the Bond. I am good with knowing it, no bells and whistles with it, basic. The far end is my bookshelf with knitting books. In front of that, bobbin lace. I am gearing up to make a little bird (more on that if I succeed).

Then the other bookshelf was next. At the top is Bond machine books. The next shelf is Toyota books and machine knitting books in general. Under that are binders and stamping magazines and my little drawers of tatting shuttles and such for tatting. That is a little tapestry loom in front I got at thrift a while ago (more on that in future).

Then this cart is my embroidery supplies. It is on wheels and can move wherever I need to work. This is a good spot to put it.

I had also changed the living room, moving my loom and little loom. (You can play I spy and find Missy in this picture).

I set up my spinning wheel here.

I left the rug loom here. It is in a good spot for it and is soooooo heavy to move.

This stayed put as well.

I think the dining room is the biggest accomplishment of all. I cleaned and rearranged my husband's art studio, claiming some wasted space and setting up a desk so he could work on it as he had been working on the table. I had him come and take breaks from his working in the workshop to have him give me his input on where he wanted things set. That freed up my table and I love having it back. He made the sculpture of the woman on the pedestal. The flowers he made are glass and light up, though they weren't on in this picture.

So that is what I had been busy with this week. What have you been up to?

I also added more cinnamon and oats to storage this month. How are you coming along with your stock ups?

Missy says put a little here and a little there as you can...with a little catnip on the side.

Tippy Longstockings says look out when you nap, furniture seems to move.