Toccoa Falls

Hubby decided that on Saturday afternoon he would go do his photography homework by going to Toccoa Falls. I decided that I would go with him to get some of my nature/texture pictures. I love to take macro or close up shots of flowers, rocks, stones, or anything else that has interesting texture. I was hoping to catch a few more flowers but it is just now spring here in my part of Georgia and still a little early in the Toccoa area, so not many blooms. But I managed.

The Toccoa Falls waterfall, with a vertical drop of 186 feet (57 m), is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College in Stephens County, Georgia. Toccoa is the Cherokee word for beautiful.

A Prayer of General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, 

we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. 

We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; 

but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; 

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. 

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. 

Amen.

So many choices, so little time

Lately I've been feeling like making so many things, but, I feel that I can't go on until I get some of my unfinished knitting projects.  I am not a faithful knitter lately.

I have knitting projects to finish.

Sugared Violets - I'm about 2/3-3/4ths through, so I'm close to done.  This will go to my physical therapist who helped put me back together after my accident.
Little Linen Stitch Bag - I saw this bag at a knitting 3 years ago even and begged for the pattern.  It wasn't written yet.  So, I waited a year, found the pattern and bought the yarn and promptly mislaid both.  I found the yarn finally, but could not find the pattern.  Bought the pattern again in October.  I started the pattern in February and will whittle away at it as I have time.  Linen stitch and cotton are not fun together.  But it creates a nice strong fabric which will be great for a bag for odds and ends.

What Do I want to Do?
1.  I want to learn Chicken Scratch embroidery (this just moved to the top of my to do list)
2.  A hat for my head (I need to choose which one)  The cold weather today inspired me that I should have a hat.  And I have some left over yarn that might just fit the bill.  But I also need to be realistic and realize that cold weather will probably end real soon and a hat may be a moot point until 9 months from now.
     Mosaic Tassel Hat
     Bicolor Spiral Hat

3.  A baby blanket - pattern yet undetermined, though I do have the yarn - For Katie's baby due in July or for the church nursery.

4.  I want to learn to Crochet
5.  I want to learn to use my knitting loom
6.  I want to learn more about jewelry making.
7.  I want to make prayer beads (different kinds) and what they are used for.
          The Seven Joy's of Mary Rosary or The Franciscan Crown

8.  Read St. Benedict's Toolbox
9.  Read The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why it Matters.
10.  Watch Season 3 of Downton Abby (I have it on the DVR)

I need to figure out how to fit some of these things into my busy life AND restrain myself from starting another knitting project.

Goal #1 - Finish Sugared Violets - it is for a person who very much deserves it.
Goal #2 - Keep reading St. Benedict's Toolbox and/or The Creed
Goal #3 - When finished with Sugared Violets - finish Little Linen Stitch Bag.  Its useful

I'm also going to prepare for chicken scratch so that when my knitting is too complicated to work on in a group setting, I can work on it. 

There, I feel better for listing out these goals and making a plan.

A Prayer of General Thanksgiving

Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. 

We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.

We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. 

We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us. 
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.

Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; 
  for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; 
  for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; 
  for his dying, through which he overcame death; 
  and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.

Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know him and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen. 
-Episcopal Church, The Book of Common Prayer