George Goodwin Kilburne

Fetching Water

by George Goodwin Kilburne, English 1839-1924

Afternoon Treat 

by George Goodwin Kilburne

(from Anthenaeum)

If you want to see more of his art, type in "George Goodwin Kilburne art" and click images. There are many sources online for his art. 

The dress I was going to make is finished and you can see it on this post. You may want to check that post once in awhile for updates, as I'm in the process of sewing a pink jacket to match that dress.

The Dandenongs

Sunday after church two lovely ladies who live in the caravan park took me to Sassafras in The Dandenongs for shopping and tea at Miss Marples.

 

This is Dreena, who has been so kind to me since I came, and has a special knack for sympathy. When I got back to an empty home after my Mother moved to her new place, Dreena cheerfully suggested a trip.

On the left is Linda, who also lives in one of those cute manufactured houses that I showed you when I first came here. We had a wonderful time visiting the shops while we waited for our seating at Miss Marples, and I think that these ladies were exceptionally happy to take a day off and come up to the mountain ranges to show off this part of Victoria to me. They both kept a very close eye on me and did not let me stray too far.

 

 

Dreena told me that people knit scarves while they are standing on the sidewalk in winter, and wrap them around the poles to keep them warm. I asked her why, and she said it was because the poles got cold in winter. I think she enjoys having me on.

They also have Christmas in July in Sassafrass since it snows up here in the mountains in winter.

Some mice yard sculpture sold in an oudoor area.

The tea room.

Next door to the tea room is a shop that sells any kind of teapot you can imagine, and every type of tea leaf, tea strainer, tea spoon and tea cup.

 

 

Click on for a larger view.

 

I neglected to take a photo of the sandwiches when they were first served.

 

The menu

The forest

 

The corner where we sat.

 

 

 

 

 

A koala teapot.

I would not have had as much of a holiday here if not for Dreena and Linda taking to Sassafras and also the other things we did together while I was here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Pretty Spring Scene

A view while on a walk on the property around my home. I am still trying to learn to blog from an ipad.

I would like to turn this into fabric.

Ladies Bible Class Today : What Does the Bible Mean by the Word "Sober"?

Reading the Letter

by P. Kraemer 

Thursday is still here for a few more hours, so before too many of the details slip my mind, I would like to share the Ladies Bible Study that we participated in today.

While we normally pick up where we left off in our Bible reading, and discuss what we read, I have, for the last month, been presenting word-study topics. One was on "refinement: and another on "discretion."  Today, we had a wonderful search through the scriptures on the meaning of the word "sober" which is often found in the Bible.  

Arriving Home

by Newell Wyeth

While most moderns would automatically define the word sober as "not drunk,"  the Bible uses it to mean something of a spiritual nature.

Of course, we already kmow from our studies that a Christian should not drink "strong drink" (alcohol) and should always be sober in that respect. 

  Because of the modern expression "sober," as in "I guess he's sober today," meaning, "not drinking alcohol",  it is important to understand exactly what the Bible means by the word.  While it applies to everyone, and also to the problem of drinking,  the ladies Bible class today discussed sobriety as it relates to the conduct of Christian women.

“Sober” is translated from the Greek word that means to be sober, calm and collected, to have good sense, good judgement, wisdom, and level-headed in times of stress.

We can use the modern comparison between drunkenness and sobriety, as an example.

A drunken person does not have good judgement, is often angry, is not alert, paying attention only to personal desires, regardless of consequences to others.

Older women are to practice a pure and holy life, "...that they may teach the young women to be sober..." Titus 2:4

To be sober in this context means to be serious-minded.  Without ever having touched a drop of liquor or "spirits" as it once was called, a woman can still lack the qualities of refinement, discretion and serious-mindedness.  When these characteristics are lacking, a woman can seem silly, giddy, mocking, and cynical, which are often the same characteristics as someone who is under the influence of alcohol.

Pensive Thoughts

by Sydney Muschamp

Sobriety means to be intelligent, understanding and considerate.  If a woman is under the influence of the world's silly talk or impure conversation, she lacks sobriety. 

Guarding one's thoughts is also part of being sober. Avoid innuendos and suggestive remarks which lead the minds of others to think of things that are "done in the dark." (Ephesians 5)  Avoid filthy, coarse jesting and foolish talking.

Now that we have some awareness of what a sober woman is, should we act as though we are sour and depressed and overly serious?  I think that would defeat our purpose of drawing people to Christ. The Word of God emphasizes that a God's people should be happy, but true happiness comes from living in compliance with God's Will. 

Is it really necessary to be so particular about the way we think, speak and act?  I think it is, because of the impression that it makes on other people concerning Christ.  There is a poem that describes why a Christian's behavior is so important. Think of it in terms of a Christian woman:

There's a Gospel according to Matthew; To Mark;

To Luke; and John too.

There's another gospel that many are reading...

The Gospel according to You.

All teachings we find in the Bible

Are facts we know to be true;

You must live them to make them the Gospel...

The Gospel according to You

Many read not the words of the Bible;

I will tell you what some of them do...

They are reading the book you are writing...

The Gospel according to you.

There's Great Power In Gospel Preaching

The Bible teaches that this is true.

But the sermon most likely to influence others

Is The Gospel according to You.

God help us to be faithful to Jesus...

To live all His teachings so true,

So that all may see His Spirit

In the Gospel according to You.

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day;

By things that you do; By things you say.

Others read that gospel, whether faithless or true!

Say! What is the Gospel According To You?

,

Leroy Brownlow

A sober, or serious-minded woman, will always be aware that her life has in influence for good or ill, on others, and if bad, can bring reproach upon her family and the church.  If good, it can bring others closer to the kingdom. If a woman is serious-minded, she will be more able to be a keeper at home and guide her children spiritual and physically. A sober woman will be alert to the affect of her actions and words on her own future and that of her family. Being naïve or simple-minded, or having thought-habits that tend toward the risqué, can become a danger to her and her family in many ways.  There is a reason that the word "sober" in reference to serious-mindedness, is used so many times in the Bible.

Added 2019:

Today's alcohol is fortified with an ingredient that makes it more powerful, and it is especially harmful to women. It does no harm to stay completely away from it. There are many articles available now showing the harm that alcohol is doing to women. In order to be sober, it is not wise to take even one drink.

The point is, we should not speak as those who are under another influence, without self-control. "Telling all" is not always appropriate or edifying, depending on the company.  A close personal friend may be the recipient of all honesty, but such talk will not always be advisable in some groups.

Please research for yourself here and other places:

41 Bible Verses About Drinking

75 Bible Verses on Drinking

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED ON THIS POST BUT YOU CAN EMAIL ME
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO POST ANYTHING FURTHER ON THE SUBJECT
ladylydiaspeaks@comcast.net

A New Day

Winsor Manor

by Thomas Kinkade

   Do you ever end your day with feelings of defeat or remorse? One reason we so carefully taught our children to pray in the evening at bed time, was to ask God to erase the sin of the day and help us wake up with  a clear conscience, free from the previous day's burdens and errors.  The old people told us, "Things are always darkest before the dawn," and it is true. After a night's rest,  responsibilities and unfinished housekeeping seem surmountable.

On this new day I am considering a new sewing project:

In a recent Chadwicks catalog, this dress sells for  more that $50.00 when the postage is counted.  I found fabric at Walmart that looks very like the print in the picture, for a third of the price; no postage, and I'm keeping the labor light by using a very simple pattern. I like pastels and tiny calico's and subtle patterns but sometimes I like bold colors and prints like this.

Here is another way they are using that fabric at Chadwicks, for a pleated skirt.  I had seen this fabric at Walmart and thought it looked interesting but could not imagine how I would use it to sew a dress, until I saw the Chadwicks catalog.  This is one way I get ideas for sewing. I see something I like that is ready-made, and think of the possibility of sewing it myself.

The approximate cost of the fabric for making the dress, below, was $20.00. It was a pleasure to sew, and wearing it is a dream. There is a sheen or glaze on the fabric that looks like glitter (it does not flake off) and it makes the fabric sturdy. There is some "give" to the fabric also, which makes it comfortable to wear. I have sewn the glittered fabric before, when I made my "butterfly dress" and found that the garment lasts a long time.

The finished dress, (use your magnifier to see the piping at the neckline, which I use to make the dress higher quality)

with jacket,

and here is the fascinator. I always like the fascinator or hat to reflect some element of the dress. Since there was a ruffle on the hem of the dress, I took a scrap of the fabric that was oval shaped with pointed ends, and ruffled it by and stitching down the middle, pulling up the threads to gather and hot-glueing  it onto a piece of cloth, which was then hot-glued onto a headband. I buy headbands in packages of 2 or 3 for a dollar, in the color of my hair, if possible. That way, the finished item will look like a hat and the headband will blend in with my hair.

I also made a stretchy "scrunchy" with elastic, to wind around a pony tail.

Here is the pattern I used,

and here is the sleeve. I like it because it has a sleeve facing at the wrist, and I could add piping there, too.

In case you want a puffed sleeve or wider sleeve from the existing pattern you are using, just down the top middle as shown in this rough drawing, and open up the cap of the sleeve pattern. Lay it on the fabric and cut around it. Add gathering stitches and pull them up to match the armhole.  A sewing hint: the double notches on a sleeve indicate the back of the arm, and the single notch is the front.  This comes in handy because a "foreign" sleeve from another pattern can be confusing. Just match your double notches to the double notches on the back dress arm hole, and the single notch to the front of the armhole.

There has been a discussion going on in my home about the way people dressed in the 1950's.  We did wear jeans, but only for farm work or to play in, or under our dresses in the cold weather. We were embarrassed to be seen in them and if we had to wear them under our skirts in the winter, we went to the ladies room at church and took them off before we entered the assembly to worship.  

At airports we dressed up to meet someone who was coming in, but also, we chose our outfits carefully for travel, and even wore gloves, although not always hats.

Around the home we had more casual wear but it could suffice if we had to go to the hardware store or the grocery store. All we did was remove our aprons. If we thought our house dresses were too sloppy or worn, we did not mind changing into something better.

It was considered respectful to dress up to visit someone in their home. I remember as though a line was drawn between the dates, the first time I saw young women show up to a formal event in jeans, shorts and sweatshirts. It was greatly disappointing because the lady who hosted the ladies tea had such an elegant home and it was such a privilege to be invited there.

There is a "pink lemonade"

 collection at Chadwicks, including tennis shoes. A pretty white blouse under this dress would be nice, or a cardigan sweater or blazer. This is another one of the garments I hope to make soon, for just a few dollars, including sleeves.

Adjustments in Life

The Doctor and the Doll

by Norman Rockwell

All my life I have had dentists, optometrists and doctors who were much older, and it was a source of confidence and comfort when I was younger. After my dentist, a military veteran, retired,  it amused me to see the young dentist who took over his practice,  looks like an 18-year-old. I am sure he is much older than that, but from my vantage, he looks very young.  He is very capable, though. 

 I do miss the stories of my previous dentist, who always had something to say about his experience in the military. He once described it as "hours and hours of sheer uneventful quiet, punctuated by sudden spurts of terror."  I smiled and answered, "That sounds like being a mother!"

I told this young dentist that I had to come in regularly to see if he was growing any older, since I see no signs of age.

I left a good review on the web after my last appointment. I had been quite apprehensive because it was serious surgery and I was relieved that it went well.  Later, when he and his wife saw my husband in the grocery store he told him that if I had any pain or any complications from my recent dental surgery, to be sure and come back in to his office.  Maybe he read my review.

It is still taking some adjustment on my part, to the new kids coming up in the professional world. I do admit they are expert in what they do and besides that, have the advantage of the latest technology and discoveries in the medical world.

The Rockwell painting of the doll doctor, reminds me of a relative who went into the doll-repair business. He and his wife had a little shop, where they repaired and sold old dolls they bought, many of them valuable antiques.  He wore a white jacket with a name tag, which said "D.D.S."  meaning, "doctor of doll surgery.  He replaced many an eye and fixed numerous joints on the jointed dolls, and even replaced hair.  

One day he had to visit his mother-in-law who was in the hospital, so he left right after work, wearing his jacket and doll surgery name tag.  As he left her hospital room and was walking down a long hall, someone stopped him and asked him if he would check on their mother, too.  He said he would, and he did. Someone who was also visiting asked him to visit someone else on the same floor of that hospital. He had a hard time getting out of there because people thought he was a "real" doctor.