What About Tomorrow?

This article was written by Dean Rippetoe of Midland, Texas.  He expressed my feelings of forecasting perfectly.  Trained weather forecasters can't even tell us exactly what is happening with the weather!

 

WHAT ABOUT TOMORROW

Someone once said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your long range plans”.We are led to believe that we are safe and secure but in reality, we are one heartbeat away from glory. We could be broke and homeless next week. That car wreck could be in the next mile we drive. We could also be a week away from a huge success in life, Our ship may be docking right now.The greatest year we have ever experienced may be 2013.

I read the predictions for the upcoming year in the Enquirer but cannot get too enthused.These folks making all the predictions are basing their statements on the past – because they do not know the future. The Chinese have a saying, “To predict is difficult, especially with regard to the future”. As much as we would like – we just don’t know about tomorrow.

Thomas Edison said when he invented the phonograph that it was unlikely to be of any commercial value. Grover Cleveland said in 1905,”Sensible and responsible women do not want to vote”. Thomas J. Watson, chairman of IBM said in 1943, “I think there is a world market for about 5 computers.Ken Olson, president of Digital Equipment predicted in 1977 that there was no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.Little did they know.

Baseball player Tris Speaker said in 1921, “Ruth made a big mistake when he gave up pitching.In 1809 folks like Edgar Allan Poe,Alfred Lord Tennyson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. and Kit Carson were born.Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were born on February 12, 1809.No one could have predicted these events.

In 1940 would we have believed that a man would one day walk on the moon.Could the 4 minute mile record be broken? Could anyone hit 70 home runs in major league baseball? Had we only known.

Have you ever stopped to think what might have happened if the person who invented preparation “H” had stopped trying on preparation “G”.His persistence stopped a world of hurting.All of us are glad that the soda pop maker kept on going after 6-up.Would you ever consider buying V7 juice? There is no way for us to know.

We don’t have a clue to who will win the Super Bowl.We don’t even know who will be playing .We only know who will not be playing.Will the stock market hit 15000 this year or will we go bust? Will Obama turn conservative and cut spending?? The mystery that the next minute holds is frightening.

Will you keep your New Years resolutions?.Where will you be on July 4^th?Truth is – we don’t know.In reality, we who feel secure and in full control, are really totally dependent on the will of God.Regardless what Congress does, the Creator is the only one who has the keys of the future. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never arrive.We only have the present and it is truly a gift.

Maybe we should stop asking God to bless what we are doing and ask Him to help us do what He is blessing.We don’t know about tomorrow – but we know who holds our hand. Seize the moment and be prepared for whatever the future holds.

Remembering

One year ago my mother-in-law Thelma passed from this world leaving us all the wonderful memories of her love and accomplishments.  Recently Ron's sister brought us the crewel embroidery picture I had stitched for Thelma more than 40 years ago.

I first made it as a pillow cover but she never wanted to use the pillow because it was too special to her and it might get torn up, dirty or worn out.  So, it stayed wrapped up in a drawer to be unwrapped on occasion and admired.  After it was tucked away for several years, Ron and I slipped it out and took it home with us.  I disassembled the pillow and had the top framed.  We gifted it to Thelma again.  She promptly asked Ron to hang it in a place where she could look at it every day.  For the rest of her life the embroidery picture hung where she could see it.

Butterflies and flowers always made her smile and feel good so that determined my choice of the picture to stitch.  I had to learn some new stitches and enjoyed every minute of the crewel embroider.  I only wish I could stitch as well now.

Fall Shawl

I seldom knit a "mystery" pattern which is usually published in segments over several weeks.  The mystery is to know what it will look like at the end although you know you are knitting a scarf, a hat, a shawl, etc.  I decided to try a  project by Goddess Knits called a Fall Mystery Shawl knit with all clues or pattern segments issued in September.  It produced a lacy beaded shawl that was both fun to knit and challenging.  I didn't finish it until mid-October but did get it off the needles and today took some photos at the Tyler Rose Garden.  Sad to say, the beads don't show at all in the photos.

Tyler Art Walk

We wandered around the Tyler, TX Art Walk, a newly revived edition of it.  Evidently it has been a few years since it was done and it is slow getting artists to participate.  It took place in downtown Tyler in the park across from the Smith County Courthouse.

When we arrived there was a group of kids rap dancing on a stage near the center of the park and a few booths in the shade at one side of the square.  Other booths and displays were in front of stores or inside buildings.  The first display I saw was the Eastside Fiber Artists' area.  I asked permission to snap some photos to share.  Permission was granted along with an invitation to join the group and to attend an upcoming workshop.  Here is a sampling of what was displayed.


Colorful pieced kimono jackets

Pieced wall hanging with interesting stitches

Colorful hand-stitched dolls and spool knitted baskets

Pieced wall hanging quilt with ribbon stitched in



Sunflower and sea scene mini-quilts

Close up of the sunflowers

Another of the artists was in a "hardware" instead of "software" mode.  The blacksmith with an electric furnace was turning out all sorts of iron hooks, brackets and dinner bells.



 

There were paintings, sketchings, ceramics along with many musicians to entertain.  My favorite was the singer who performed "Mack the Knife" in classic Bobby Darin style.  We didn't stay long enough to see the finish of the wooden sculpture being assembled.  The artist was nailing together pieces of 2x4's and other scraps in a sort of skyscraper look.  He said that he would spray paint it all one color and it would be "cool."

I have finished Clue 3 of the Fall Mystery Shawl.  Interesting lace patterns are developing.

FMS Clue 2

While based in Atoka, OK for the last week we have spent most of our time visiting area courthouses, libraries and cemeteries.  Yep, back to the genealogy addiction, digging up dead relatives is fun and challenging.  When not researching, I have been updating the info in The Master Genealogist software and figuring out what else could be found based on what I already had found.  I have been missing my file cabinet full of bits of paper notes and charts that I had accumulated over the 20+ years of researching. 

I finally managed to squeeze in the time to finish Clue 2 of the Fall Mystery Shawl and have a few rows knit on Clue 3.  I am liking the way it is turning out.

2012 Fall Mystery Shawl Clue 1

"I let my mind wander
And what did it do?
It just kept right on goin'
Until it got back to you
I let my mind wander

Can't trust it one minute
It's worse than a child
Disobeys without conscience
It's drivin' me wild
When I let my mind wander"

I Let My Mind Wander by Willie Nelson

Letting your mind wander is a fatal mistake when knitting on lace.  Thank goodness I had earlier had presence of mind to put in a "lifeline" so only had a few rows to tink.  Tink is knit spelled backwards and to tink is to undo the knitting stitch by stitch.  Think about how you get a runner in you hose.  Same thing with a dropped stitch in knitting. 

As it was, I got it all back on track and have finished the first clue or set of instructions.

The yarn is Ella Rae Lace Merino and the beads are transparent silver-lined glass.

The second clue will be out on Saturday so I am ready!

Scarf Swap Pretties

The Lonestar State Knitters Yahoo Group held a Dog Days of Summer Scarf Swap.  Members who signed up knit a scarf to send to the swap partner.  Who would be sending your gift scarf to you was a mystery, known only to the organizer.  I received my scarf yesterday.  It was knit in a wonderfully soft silk and bamboo yarn and is a lovely teal blue.  It also uses two of my favorite stitches, cables and lace. 

Caroline M from Austin also gifted me with a pair of embroidery sissors.  They are just right to fit into my newest project bag.  Sure wish the weather would cool so I could wear the scarf.