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Women’s Clothing Month at Sew, Mama, Sew! is almost over.  You can find the last part of the vintage smock sew along here.  Sew Mama also has tutorials on how to make pleats, including a pleated collar and how to set in sleeves.

Another very helpful site I’ve found for pattern alterations and other techniques is Fashion-Incubator.  Right now you will find a tutorial for zippered welt pockets.  Go ahead and check out the archives over there for a wealth of information.

Do you have any sites or tutorials to share with us? 

Today I want to share some of the interesting financial posts I read this past month.  There’s a little something here for everyone.

Debt Reduction Guide at No Credit Needed

How I Save Money With My ING Direct Checking and Savings Account at The Digerati Life

10 Websites Where You Can Manage Your Money Online For Free at  My Two Dollars

How is Your Credit Score Determined? at Cash Money Life

How to Improve Your Credit Score at Cash Money Life

Where’s My Stimulus Payment? at Cash Money Life

Making and Maintaining a Master Information Document at The Simple Dollar

Free Financial “Playbook for Life” for Teens at Blogging Away Debt

Cut Your Health Care Costs By Understanding Your Insurance Coverage at Money Smart Life

The Debtor’s Toolkit at The Simple Dollar

This Post Really Suk-kuks: Examining Islamic Finance at Wise Bread  This is really a thought provoking post and a “must read.”

A Good Humans Ways to Save Money at Frugal For Life

Ten Steps To Take When You Are In Financial Trouble at Generation X Finance

I miss the white nights in Helsinki.  Midsummer eve occurs in the midst of the daylight season.  It’s light night and day, day and night.  I feel a song coming on.  That’s in keeping with the spirit of Midsummer eve.  It’s a magical time of  Finnish traditions, handicrafts, folk dancing and music, food, laughter and street parties at this celebration.  Finally, it’s also warm out, sometimes reaching 70° F so that’s one more thing to celebrate.

Another part of the Helsinki summers is the ice cream.  That happens to be part of the winters as well, but the least bit of warmth in the air and crowds of people are out strolling and eating ice cream.  You can even eat garlic ice cream at the garlic restaurant. And like it sounds, everything is made with garlic. I think the only thing the Finns like better than ice cream are cell phones.  We’ve managed to catch up with the cell phone craze over here, but in the early 90’s about two out of every three Finns had a cell phone to their ear.  They were very adept at walking and talking without missing a beat.  I personally can either concentrate on walking or talking on the phone, but not both.  I like to stop and sit while talking.  When I’m on the move, I’m too busy taking it all in.

In Helsinki there are plenty of places to stop and sit.  There are little parks all over the place.  A lot of them have lilacs. I adore lilacs.  They have such a heavenly fragrance.  That’s one thing I missed after moving south.  Growing up in the Midwest we always had lilac bushes, but nothing like they grow in Helsinki.  Those babies are literally trees.  I used to pick off some of the flowers and hope I wouldn’t get arrested.  It was just too tempting.  I also liked to stop at a flower shop and buy bunches of lily of the valley; another flower that doesn’t like the south.  While we were in Finland, my cabin always had lovely fresh flowers.

If you’ve ever been to Helsinki, you know about Stockmann‘s.  It is still my all time favorite department store.  I love Macy’s and Saks, but they don’t hold a candle to Stockmann’s.  The variety found there just makes your mouth water and your wallet cry.  It has all the normal department store type stuff plus a delicatessen, pharmacy, espresso shop, travel bureau, framing service, sauna equipment, custom made shoes, fitness center, grocery store and much, much more.  The only thing you can’t buy there is a washcloth.  Washcloths are not standard items in many countries.  I finally was able to locate a washcloth at The Body Shop.  Helsinki was the place where I was introduced to The Body Shop and it’s delights.

Okay, the night here is black instead of white and my body says it’s time to crawl between the sheets.  I could write for a long time about the pleasures of Helsinki, but I think I’ll just have to go to bed and dream about them.  Remind me some time to tell you about my night time snorkeling.

Here on the island we love our geckos.  People who live in Florida, the Caribbean and other warm climates are very familiar with these little lizards.  They are most everywhere down here.  If you happen to be out on the lanai and see the leaves of one of your plants start moving, you don’t have fairies doing a little dance in there.  It’s just a gecko or two scurrying around.  They are quick little guys.  If you make a movement, your gecko will first freeze in it’s tracks.  As long as you stay still, the lizard will stay still.  Forget it.  You can’t out wait that lizard.  It just won’t move until you move first.  Then it takes off at the speed of greased lightening.   It doesn’t matter if it’s the floor, wall or ceiling.  These little guys will be exploring it.  If you’re interested in the technical stuff about how they are able to defy gravity, check it out here.

Geckos are good entertainment on a quiet summer evening.  I saw the cutest little baby today.  It’s body was about an inch long and the tail another inch.  It hasn’t learned the “don’t move and no one will see me” trick yet.  This baby had the funniest run.  It almost looked like a little hop.  If they were cats, we’d say they are good “mousers.”  But they aren’t cats, so I guess we just have to say they’re good “buggers.”  They keep our insect populations down.  There you have it – entertainment and mosquito repellent in one cute little package.  And when it gets too dark outside, you can go in, turn on the tube and see the Geico gecko.  Try saying that fast ten times.

Now that I’ve given you the poop on geckos, I’d like to give you the gecko poop.  We don’t mind the little critters in our houses, but we really would like to do without the gecko poop.  We haven’t been able to get them house trained.  Heck, they don’t even need a gecko door.  They can just get out the same little crack they came through to get in.  They just don’t care to even be paper trained.  We can find gecko poop in all kinds of places.  At least it’s not something big to step in and it doesn’t smell up the place.  It just looks strange.  It’s two toned black and white.  How about that! Integrated gecko poop.  Maybe there’s a message there for us.

It seems that during the process of spiffing up my island, there is a bit of sand in the works.  Never fear.  We’re working on getting all the sand back down on the beach and everything working as it should.  The beautification process should be complete within a day or two.  How do you like my island so for?  Any suggestions?

I was just sitting on my beach enjoying the gentle breeze when I thought I saw a little speck out there in the distance.  I grabbed my telescope and checked it out.  I’m seeing another island. I can’t believe I can actually see Hawaii all the way from my little island here in the Caribbean.  Maybe it’s a mirage leftover from my Internet surfing.  Yes, that’s what it is.

I’ve been spending time with the lady at An Island Life.  She’s having a giveaway of Little Windows Brilliant Photo Jewelry.  Sail on over to the other island and read more about Little Windows jewelry and enter her giveaway. 

Surf’s up.  Gotta go.

We now know it as Memorial Day, but it began as Decoration Day on May 30, 1868 to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.  The first national celebration of this holiday was held at Arlington National Cemetery and  began with this proclamation by General John A. Logan.

The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.

In 1882 the name of this holiday was changed to Memorial Day, but it remained a day of rememberance by the decorating of graves.  In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be held on the last Monday in May. This apparently was done so that we are assured a long weekend and are no longer inconvienced with a holiday falling on whatever day if the week the 30th of May occured.  When I was younger, the holiday always started with an early morning trip to the grave sites of family members and friends.  Yes, we took fresh flowers to use for decorating the sites.  My mother had many peony bushes which bloomed at the proper time in Indiana, and thus, were the flowers we used.  It seemed to be the flower of choice, because we could look around and see many grave sites decorated with these lovely, fragrant blooms.

Many miles now separate me from those who have gone ahead.  I no longer decorate except in my heart and memory.  Do you decorate on Memorial Day?

Thus says the Lord:  Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place?

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the Lord.

But this is the one to whom I will look, the the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.

Isaiah 66:1, 2

Actually, I’m getting beautified vicariously.  My sunny island is getting the makeover and very soon you will see the difference.  Revka at RS Designs will be supplying the expertise.  This makeover is the result of my contest win when Tiffany at Snapshots of Life was celebrating her one year blogoversary. 

This has been a little slow in coming about, not because Revka was dragging her feet.  It’s because, novice that I am, I had to figure out what it was that I wanted done.  Revka has been very good and supportive all the way.  I would not hesitate to recommend her for any of your blog design needs.  Check out RS Designs and be sure to check in here every day to see what is happening with my beautification project.

I’m reading a book by Steve Brown titled A Scandalous Freedom: The Radical Nature Of The Gospel.  Steve Brown is a radio broadcaster, seminary professor and author.  I’ve only read the first five chapters so far and find myself rejoicing in the fact that I’ve found this book and this author.  Steve opened my eyes to the freedom that we do indeed have in Christ.  It’s a freedom that most people don’t realize is part of the package when we become a Christian.  We have the freedom not to be right and “righteous.”  Don’t you sometimes get tired of trying to be perfect?  You should, because you’ll never get there.  You’re free to quit trying.  One of the things Steve tells us is “When I stopped working so hard at being better and turned to Jesus, that’s when I started getting just a little bit better.”  You aren’t going to get perfect.  Stop trying. Let God do the fixing up.   

What happened to the joy?  Did you throw it all away and start focusing on being a better person?  Are you busy being religious?  Are you busy being nice? That can be hard work.  Is it really so scandalous, this freedom we have been given?  Much of the world thinks so.  Many Christians will think so.  I don’t think it is.  I like being free.  I like the fact that Steve Brown stands up and tells it like it is. 

How very scandalous!  I can take off the masks I wear and God is going to keep on loving me.  Just the way I am.  Not the masks I try to wear.  I wonder why we wear masks when God can see right through them anyway.  We wear masks to show ourselves.  Steve tells us to let God take off that mask with a simple prayer.  “Lord, show me myself.”  How very simple, and how very profound.  And what will God show you?  He will show you that you are loved unconditionally.  He will show you that you don’t have to do anything to justify that love.  When I read this chapter about masks is when I knew I had to share this book with you.  Without realizing it, I’ve been in the process of taking off my mask by writing to you.  Find a copy of this book and enjoy your freedom.  As for me, I’m going to find a comfortable chair and finish the last half.  I’m looking forward to the rest of this amazing book that’s teaching me to enjoy the freedom I’ve had for years and not known it.