What's on your mind?

The "singles" ministry leader says every Sunday during the lesson "I don't want to get into End Times talk....."right before getting into End Times talk.
What can he say tho? We're going thru Matthew & Mark, & Jesus does bring up the End Times.

I have to say I don't notice the biggest improvement with 4k over 1080P (at least compared to the jump from 480p to 720/1080P) ... although I do love the HDR. The colors really pop.

Multifavs said:

What does a coverstitch machine do? Is it similar to a sewing machine? It sounds interesting.

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They’re a specialized serger machine. Commonly used with knits and woven fabrics. Look at the neckline on a tee or the hem on the bottom of the sleeve. Flip it over and you’ll see multiple rows of stitching. That’s the coverstitch.

Going to be negative 0 weather for the next week. Makes the mornings extra crappy. Overall though.. it has been a pretty mild winter thus far.

Here is the post I was saying I think got lost in the shuffle:

[

bèlla said:

I considered it but came to my senses. Cycling can be solitary but there’s a huge community. And events, challenges, and tourism too.

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I've considered cycling clubs. IDK, tho. I know what my body needs & it needs to focus on weights. Cycling is just a hobby, something to do outside for fun.

bèlla said:

I live in the Midwest. I’m partial to the East Coast. The Lord is sending me to Europe for school. I don’t know where I’ll end up when I’m done.

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You'll probably stay there, many Americans find they like it better there, sadly. I imagine you'll meet some single man w/ a cute accent you like He'll have traveled the world too, like you, maybe he studied in the States. That's what I think.


What do you study btw?

bèlla said:

You’re welcome. Anyone who enjoys golf, cycling, and the violin rates pretty high in my book.

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Yay!

bèlla said:

It comes out in your writing. Especially in your comments on other topics and personal interests. You communicate well.

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blush

bèlla said:

You could do that.

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bèlla said:

Excellent! You’ll have a blast. I may start praying for a golfer. I never meet a Christian man who’s into the game! I think you inspired me.

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I think golf is big in Europe. It was invented there, at least, I think. The single man you meet there will be into it. It's big here too, I"m surprised you haven't met a Christian golfer man. (lol that's phrased funny but I don't want to fix it)

bèlla said:

You could have a homestead. Land, horses, and a working garden.

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I'd need a family for all that

bèlla said:

A lot of my behavior is genetic. They were green thumbs who raised their own food, fished, preserved, and smoked meat and fish. They had a root cellar and smoker.


I’m in the self-sufficient camp. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole far enough to survive the unexpected.

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bèlla said:

You can have chickens and goats. But they climb.

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I'm not sure. The chickens could fit in quite well w/ the wild turkeys we have living in our association. The neighbors would just think the turkeys made friends w/ them. The goats too. I'm not sure if the neighbors would like chicken coops tho. If they allowed chickens & goats, then surely I could have a horse too.


I'd have to move.

bèlla said:

How cool! Showing may relate to dressage. Then there’s jumping which demonstrates agility and the steeplechase.


Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era.

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Same! As I was saying, I hate the reliance on tech. I wish we could still live off the land, grow our own food, build our own house, travel by horse, etc. I feel like a slave to tech.

bèlla said:

Probably. I never considered a Christian college. My life would have taken a different route. I like the one I’m on.

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I like my route too. I’m happy I was guided to the secular college. I can see experiences I had that God wanted me there, both for my life & other people's lives.

bèlla said:

I have the potential to be a stay-at-home wife with lots of children. Little miss domesticity rears her head on occasion.

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I want that!!! So hard finding that these days. I can sort of understand women want to have a backup in case something goes wrong, like the marriage/relationship goes horrible, but I wonder if that problem's over-exaggerated, especially if they have a part-time job in addition to being a mommy & housewife.

I have a friend who dumped his girlfriend b/c she wanted that. He didn't. He expected her to have a job too. She wanted to be a mommy & a housewife only. I'm like, 'Why Would You Dump Her, Dude???? She's perfect!!!' I told him I just have a problem when they don't even have that ambition. My last girl friend was like that. Another reason we basically ended our friendship (she just wanted things handed to her )

True confession:

Instead of creating a thread, I thought I would share this will y'all (the friendliest group on CF). I have always struggled with obsessive/compulsive thinking. It was really bad as a young adult with panic attacks, especially when driving hwys around Dallas and standing in lines. I would drive on the far right lane, just in case if I had a heart attack (which is what it felt like) I might not harm anyone else and hit the ditch. I eventually got past it. Besides the psychosomatic effects, I knew it was irrational (the physical experience felt real enough). So, I basically started to ignore the thoughts, assuming God's will be done, and taking a Stoic attitude of "I can only control what I can control."

I haven't struggled with debilitating scruples since, until the pandemic. As soon as I heard we should wipe things down, my magnificent magnifying mind kicked into high gear, lol. I knew this was going to be a problem. So, my main thing has been wiping down groceries. I just have to, haha. I have read the articles that say it's not necessary, but once I got in the routine it was just easier to keep it than fight the battle. I have been using my spare room as "quarantine room" and if I didn't need something right away it went in there and the rest got wiped down.

Well, my sister has moved in with me. She doesn't have the same concerns I do, haha. My immediate temptation is to get irritable, or try to control the situation and dictate how all groceries are to be brought into the house. But I haven't done that, haven't even gotten irritable. I just let it go. I still do my little things as is possible, but I'm not trying to control the situation and am at peace with it. I'm think about all this because I just back from the store.

All that to say, years of keeping a contemplative prayer practice has done wonders in helping me disassociate myself from my thoughts. I am amazed and truly grateful. I know I am not my thoughts, and being able to let them go when they're not helpful has also helped deal with the passions (h/t to the Eastern Orthodox mystics). At any rate, for what it's worth, lol.

I woke this morning feeling energized. The weather is cold but I’m feeling productive. The package dilemma is resolved and the replacement will arrive tomorrow. I found a better coverstitch machine (different model) with greater savings, extras and no sales tax. And labels are on the horizon!

I needed an editable template I could use for storage bins, Weck, and spice jars. Finding a set that covered all three was challenging. I didn’t want to make them myself and many used third party services to edit the template. I wanted to use Adobe.

Note: I recommend Aozita’s spice jars. You can find them on Amazon. The kits come with labels. If you use standard spices that should suffice.

I stumbled on a website that offered custom templates in PDF. I’ll tailor them to the bins and jars. I won’t have to worry about fit and I can alter everything. This is what I want.



I’m using bins from Ikea’s Kuggis and Variera collection for organization. They’re hard plastic. Kuggis includes a lid and is stackable.




When you begin organizing you’ll probably purge again. Finding a home for everything makes you realize a lot of stuff goes unused. Or you have more than you need.

I recommend decluttering before you organize. Bins add up! Minor accommodations like slide out racks (for pots and pans) and under the sink organizers are good investments.

One year challenges are ideal for most. Especially if you have a lot to go through. You’ll make steady progress without being overwhelmed.

DragonFox91 said:

I've considered cycling clubs. IDK, tho. I know what my body needs & it needs to focus on weights. Cycling is just a hobby, something to do outside for fun.

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Cycling clubs are social. Fitness is a byproduct of the hobby but isn’t the primary motivation for most. They like enjoying nature in the company of others.

You'll probably stay there, many Americans find they like it better there, sadly. I imagine you'll meet some single man w/ a cute accent you like He'll have traveled the world too, like you, maybe he studied in the States. That's what I think.

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I’ll probably stay there during colder months in the US. I don’t need blazing heat but single digit temperatures aren’t my forte.

What do you study btw?

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Fashion and interior design are my focus.

I think golf is big in Europe. It was invented there, at least, I think. The single man you meet there will be into it. It's big here too, I"m surprised you haven't met a Christian golfer man. (lol that's phrased funny but I don't want to fix it)

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It is. We weren’t segregated growing up. I attended Christian schools but our social life was diverse. This is the first time I’ve been in that setting outside of church.

I'd need a family for all that

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Aspiring homesteaders should take it up while single and acquire instruction and experience when they can. Master gardener training is beneficial. Helping others will deepen your proficiency. Animal husbandry requires classes or an arrangement with a farmer. And the master preserver course is worth it. You’ll grow more than you consume before spoilage occurs. Learning how to can, dehydrate, and maintain a larder will extend the season. And everyone loves homemade gifts.

I'd have to move.

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Yes you would. Urban farms are an option. The Quarter-Acre Farm and Farm City are entertaining reads on the subject. I’ve covered a lot in the genre and recommend firsthand stories for a reality check.

Same! As I was saying, I hate the reliance on tech. I wish we could still live off the land, grow our own food, build our own house, travel by horse, etc. I feel like a slave to tech.

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I don’t want to be Amish or Mennonite. Technology has its place but moderation is key. I wouldn’t trade a washing machine and do it by hand. That’s labor intensive! So is churning butter. PBS and BBC have several programs where the cast travels back in time and lives in different periods. They’re eye opening and may sway your opinion.

but I wonder if that problem's over-exaggerated, especially if they have a part-time job in addition to being a mommy & housewife.

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That’s 3 jobs. Stay-at-home mothers rarely have daycare or a nanny. They have the child full-time until they’re school aged. And all day if they homeschool. They fit housekeeping around the children. Where does the time for work come in? Juggling all three is stressful. If she’s home they need to live on one income.

I didn’t encourage my daughter to be a stay-at-home wife. I suggested she build a business that allowed her to be at home and afford the tradeoffs she wanted. If he covers household expenses she can fund the luxuries like housekeeping, a nanny, and so on. Which eases the burden on both.

I have a friend who dumped his girlfriend b/c she wanted that. He didn't. He expected her to have a job too. She wanted to be a mommy & a housewife only. I'm like, 'Why Would You Dump Her, Dude???? She's perfect!!!'

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No she wasn’t. If he doesn’t want to be the breadwinner he shouldn’t build a future with someone expecting it.

I told him I just have a problem when they don't even have that ambition. My last girl friend was like that. Another reason we basically ended our friendship (she just wanted things handed to her )

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There’s nothing wrong with a man providing for his companion if he desires to do so. Contribution comes in many guises.

You’re looking for a unicorn. Few women will sign on for full-time homemaking, parenting, and wifely duties while working part-time and embracing the ethos you crave.

I have a green lifestyle and I know the time and expense you put in to live that way. I’d never agree to it without hired help if I had a family. The nonstop pace would take a toll in the long run.

bèlla said:

Cycling clubs are social. Fitness is a byproduct of the hobby but isn’t the primary motivation for most. They like enjoying nature in the company of others.

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I'm not sure. My realtor was part of one. The miles they put in sounded a level higher then I like. Yeah, they're part of the club for social reasons, but they're also cycling fanatics.

bèlla said:

I’ll probably stay there during colder months in the US. I don’t need blazing heat but single digit temperatures aren’t my forte.

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That's what we got the South for.

bèlla said:

Fashion and interior design are my focus.

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I thought so. Do you work w/ or someday maybe want to work for the big fashion names?

bèlla said:

It is. We weren’t segregated growing up. I attended Christian schools but our social life was diverse. This is the first time I’ve been in that setting outside of church.

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I'm confused.

bèlla said:

Aspiring homesteaders should take it up while single and acquire instruction and experience when they can. Master gardener training is beneficial. Helping others will deepen your proficiency. Animal husbandry requires classes or an arrangement with a farmer. And the master preserver course is worth it. You’ll grow more than you consume before spoilage occurs. Learning how to can, dehydrate, and maintain a larder will extend the season. And everyone loves homemade gifts.

Yes you would. Urban farms are an option. The Quarter-Acre Farm and Farm City are entertaining reads on the subject. I’ve covered a lot in the genre and recommend firsthand stories for a reality check.

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I don't think I want to live on a farm! Too much work! You could do it, tho.

I am on my association's board. I get involved in some of the gardening decisions. It's not a strength, tho.

bèlla said:

I don’t want to be Amish or Mennonite. Technology has its place but moderation is key. I wouldn’t trade a washing machine and do it by hand. That’s labor intensive! So is churning butter. PBS and BBC have several programs where the cast travels back in time and lives in different periods. They’re eye opening and may sway your opinion.

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I find the Amish fascinating. Not saying I could live like that, at this point I've been programmed to be a slave to tech, but that lifestyle is appealing to me.

bèlla said:

That’s 3 jobs. Stay-at-home mothers rarely have daycare or a nanny. They have the child full-time until they’re school aged. And all day if they homeschool. They fit housekeeping around the children. Where does the time for work come in? Juggling all three is stressful. If she’s home they need to live on one income.

I didn’t encourage my daughter to be a stay-at-home wife. I suggested she build a business that allowed her to be at home and afford the tradeoffs she wanted. If he covers household expenses she can fund the luxuries like housekeeping, a nanny, and so on. Which eases the burden on both.



No she wasn’t. If he doesn’t want to be the breadwinner he shouldn’t build a future with someone expecting it.



There’s nothing wrong with a man providing for his companion if he desires to do so. Contribution comes in many guises.

You’re looking for a unicorn. Few women will sign on for full-time homemaking, parenting, and wifely duties while working part-time and embracing the ethos you crave.

I have a green lifestyle and I know the time and expense you put in to live that way. I’d never agree to it without hired help if I had a family. The nonstop pace would take a toll in the long run.

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Just because you don't want to do it, doesn't mean there's a woman out there for me that won't. I bet you could if you wanted to tho. All that still probably wouldn't be enough for you! But when I say part-time I mean very part-time, like less then 20 hours a week, a couple hours a day, if that. Plus, that'd just be an ideal. If she wants to just be a housewife w/ no paying job, more power to her. Also, I think a lot of women do desire something like that. I would if I was a woman. Motherly instincts kick in but they still desire being busy outside family responsibilities.

public hermit said:

True confession:

Instead of creating a thread, I thought I would share this will y'all (the friendliest group on CF). I have always struggled with obsessive/compulsive thinking. It was really bad as a young adult with panic attacks, especially when driving hwys around Dallas and standing in lines. I would drive on the far right lane, just in case if I had a heart attack (which is what it felt like) I might not harm anyone else and hit the ditch. I eventually got past it. Besides the psychosomatic effects, I knew it was irrational (the physical experience felt real enough). So, I basically started to ignore the thoughts, assuming God's will be done, and taking a Stoic attitude of "I can only control what I can control."

I haven't struggled with debilitating scruples since, until the pandemic. As soon as I heard we should wipe things down, my magnificent magnifying mind kicked into high gear, lol. I knew this was going to be a problem. So, my main thing has been wiping down groceries. I just have to, haha. I have read the articles that say it's not necessary, but once I got in the routine it was just easier to keep it than fight the battle. I have been using my spare room as "quarantine room" and if I didn't need something right away it went in there and the rest got wiped down.

Well, my sister has moved in with me. She doesn't have the same concerns I do, haha. My immediate temptation is to get irritable, or try to control the situation and dictate how all groceries are to be brought into the house. But I haven't done that, haven't even gotten irritable. I just let it go. I still do my little things as is possible, but I'm not trying to control the situation and am at peace with it. I'm think about all this because I just back from the store.

All that to say, years of keeping a contemplative prayer practice has done wonders in helping me disassociate myself from my thoughts. I am amazed and truly grateful. I know I am not my thoughts, and being able to let them go when they're not helpful has also helped deal with the passions (h/t to the Eastern Orthodox mystics). At any rate, for what it's worth, lol.

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There’s levels to how bad traffic is in the metroplex. It goes from Fort Worth (not that bad) to Arlington (Medium) to Dallas (Pretty bad). OCD is a mess for sure.

TenthAveN said:

There’s levels to how bad traffic is in the metroplex. It goes from Fort Worth (not that bad) to Arlington (Medium) to Dallas (Pretty bad). OCD is a mess for sure.

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I was a contract telephone lineman for GTE ( and then Verizon when it changed). We had the master contract from Dallas to Sherman. Driving those big trucks around Dallas raked my nerves. I don't miss it, at all.

public hermit said:

I was a contract telephone lineman for GTE ( and then Verizon when it changed). We had the master contract from Dallas to Sherman. Driving those big trucks around Dallas raked my nerves. I don't miss it, at all.

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Drivers in Texas take advantage of the wide roads

DragonFox91 said:

I'm not sure. My realtor was part of one. The miles they put in sounded a level higher then I like. Yeah, they're part of the club for social reasons, but they're also cycling fanatics.

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Some are serious trekkers but you don’t have to do the same. Go at your own pace.

I thought so. Do you work w/ or someday maybe want to work for the big fashion names?

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No. My commitment to sustainability, a livable wage, and local manufacturing prohibits it.

I don't think I want to live on a farm! Too much work! You could do it, tho.

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With the appropriate help of course!

I find the Amish fascinating. Not saying I could live like that, at this point I've been programmed to be a slave to tech, but that lifestyle is appealing to me.

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It’s interesting. I talk to several well-known Amish fiction authors. I’ve learned a lot through them.

Just because you don't want to do it, doesn't mean there's a woman out there that for me that won't.

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I think my experiences allow me to speak candidly on the subject. I’ve worked full-time on an organic production farm, raised a child, homeschooled for a time, juggled a demanding career, and befriended homesteaders and stay-at-home wives and mothers. Most of the entrepreneurs I know are married with children.

I’m not oblivious to the struggles women have with balancing their responsibilities. I’ve lived it and hear it frequently.

I bet you could if you wanted to tho.

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I wouldn’t or sanction the same for my daughter. I prefer a lifestyle where familial and personal desires are equally fulfilled.

Also, I think a lot of women do desire something like that. I would if I was a woman.

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Most women who want to be SAHW/SAHM don’t want to work. They want to devote themselves to childrearing and homemaking as their job. That’s what the tradwife and 1950s movements address.

bèlla said:

Some are serious trekkers but you don’t have to do the same. Go at your own pace.

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It's an option

bèlla said:

No. My commitment to sustainability, a livable wage, and local manufacturing prohibits it.

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By livable wage, do you mean they wouldn't pay well enough?
Many employers are emphasizing sustainability.
Agree if you want local manufacturing tho.

bèlla said:

With the appropriate help of course!

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bèlla said:

It’s interesting. I talk to several well-known Amish fiction authors. I’ve learned a lot through them.

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Amish fiction?

bèlla said:

I think my experiences allow me to speak candidly on the subject. I’ve worked full-time on an organic production farm, raised a child, homeschooled for a time, juggled a demanding career, and befriended homesteaders and stay-at-home wives and mothers. Most of the entrepreneurs I know are married with children.

I’m not oblivious to the struggles women have with balancing their responsibilities. I’ve lived it and hear it frequently.

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Right, but they must desire that lifestyle to some extent.

bèlla said:

I wouldn’t or sanction the same for my daughter. I prefer a lifestyle where familial and personal desires are equally fulfilled.

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Equal doesn't mean same.

bèlla said:

Most women who want to be SAHW/SAHM don’t want to work. They want to devote themselves to childrearing and homemaking as their job. That’s what the tradwife and 1950s movements address.

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Right, but I think feminism has pushed them to wanting both. Again tho, I don't care if she wants to be SAH mom & not work. I'd just be surprised if she wants to be SAH mom & work too. Being a SAH mom doesn't seem as common as it used to.

Bleh, power problems at the office building so we have to log-out of the system here & I have things to do!!!

Can't believe the night and day difference that hydration makes. I wasted so much time with being fatigued, sinuses and having no motivation to get anything done last week. I cranked out the water this weekend and got some extra sleep in between... 10 times better.

DragonFox91 said:

By livable wage, do you mean they wouldn't pay well enough? Many employers are emphasizing sustainability. Agree if you want local manufacturing tho.

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Most garment workers are severely underpaid. Profiting from their misery is unethical. Maintaining operations here ensures the labor is fairly compensated and work conditions aren’t exploitive. And I prefer to support American workers. Charity begins at home.

Amish fiction?

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It falls under the romance genre. Extremely popular. Many authors are Christian.

Right, but they must desire that lifestyle to some extent.

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I date men who desire the same. If it were up to them I wouldn’t work.

Being a SAH mom doesn't seem as common as it used to.

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They exist but the numbers aren’t plentiful in Christian circles.[/quote]

I did a lot of heavy lifting today. Moving the desk wasn’t difficult. But then I decided to bring the chair to my room and had to move the boxes in the hall. After I rearranged things I was done for the day.

We had pizza for dinner and I played catch up with mum. She was surprised to hear I bought a corset and said I’ll definitely meet someone. She liked it a lot. I wonder if she wants her own. You never know with her.

bèlla said:

Most garment workers are severely underpaid. Profiting from their misery is unethical.

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I'm not sure about underpayment, but things like child labor & poor working conditions in general are big problems.

bèlla said:

Maintaining operations here ensures the labor is fairly compensated and work conditions aren’t exploitive.

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yep!

bèlla said:

And I prefer to support American workers. Charity begins at home.

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yessssss

bèlla said:

It falls under the romance genre. Extremely popular. Many authors are Christian.

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Interesting. Care to list some titles I could take a look at, just because I'm curious?

bèlla said:

I date men who desire the same. If it were up to them I wouldn’t work.

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I'm confused

bèlla said:

They exist but the numbers aren’t plentiful in Christian circles.

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I thought stay-at-home moms would be more common on Christian circles?

But either way, I was thinking this evening, it wouldn't matter b/c my mom does a lot of babysitting for my nephew & therefore other mom duties. (not that my sister isn't a good mommy, I mean my mom really helps her)

DragonFox91 said:

I'm not sure about underpayment, but things like child labor & poor working conditions in general are big problems.

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Most clothing isn’t produced in the US. Especially fast fashion. They earn heaps by doing it overseas where wage laws don’t exist and sell it here for a profit.

Interesting. Care to list some titles I could take a look at, just because I'm curious?

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Most Amish stories have moral undertones. Faith and family are central themes. Romantic love is plentiful. Beth Wiseman, Beverly Lewis, Amy Clipston, Vannetta Chapman, Ruth Reid, and Wanda Brunstetter are worth checking out.

I thought stay-at-home moms would be more common on Christian circles?

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Most couples don’t want or can’t afford to live on one income and many women enjoy their careers.

But either way, I was thinking this evening, it wouldn't matter b/c my mom does a lot of babysitting for my nephew & therefore other mom duties. (not that my sister isn't a good mommy, I mean my mom really helps her)

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That’s nice. My mother did the same. We lived in the same neighborhood for years.

I’ve seen the challenges of juggling entrepreneurship and a family. You’re pulled in different directions. It can be frustrating and tiring. I want my daughter to have the help she needs. If it increases their quality of life that’s a plus.

I don’t want her stuck in the house, worn down, or neglecting herself. She needs time with her spouse, children, friends, and alone. The balance improves your mindset and disposition. You have less stress and upset.

I understand that may not be the goal for some.