Amazing Gifts

Today started out with some sad news...Marc's first livestock purchase, Diego Rabbit, was found dead in his cage. Diego had lived far beyond our expectations. We can't remember what year Marc bought him, but Diego was at least 9 or 10 years old so he had a very good, long life. Marc buried his 'first bought' and is accepting it like a good farmer must. As the old saying goes, "If you have livestock on the farm, you'll eventually have deadstock." Marc has matured a great deal thanks to the lessons and responsibilities his animals have helped him learn.

This morning Wayne and Bob were working on some cut glass projects and discussing what else they could make from cut glass that might sell well. They printed out some patterns from the web and thought about what colors of glass they'd need to purchase. Those dreams and 'purchases' have often been pushed aside by other more pressing 'needs'.

This evening I was glancing through the local Pennysaver, and as I usually do, I went directly to the 's' section to see if there were any spinning wheels. There was a small ad listing stained glass and equipment. I pointed it out to Wayne and he made the call. Before he got off the phone he knew that the price they were asking was very reasonable.

We drove to Cherry Valley (about an hour away) and walked into a workshop that was filled with crates and boxes of colored glass and a table full of equipment. The couple is trying to empty their home and outbuildings of 'extras' since the house is on the market and they plan on moving into a much smaller home. He is no longer able to do cut glass work due to health issues so they decided to sell everything in one 'package'. That one 'package' was so big that we'll be making another trip to pick up the rest of the glass and goodies that we couldn't bring home tonight.

Wayne had just been looking at a stained glass supply catalog to price equipment and glass. We paid less than 1/2 of what we would have paid through a catalog and no shipping, which would have been outrageous. Wayne now has enough glass to try all those patterns he and Bob had been discussing and many, many more (including all the patterns that were included in tonight's purchase).

As we were talking, the woman mentioned she was a weaver. I said that I was a spinner. "Would you like to buy a spinning wheel?" Surprised, I said, "I'd like to see what you have." So she and I went to the house where she showed me her loom and some of the projects she's made. She specializes in antique weaving patterns and has made beautiful pieces from her handspun/dyed yarns. The double drive Canadian spinning wheel is dated 1919 and is in very good condition. We discussed the price and I asked her if she'd be willing to hold it until I get paid on the 21st. She agreed and said that she had planned on putting an ad in the paper...so I'm getting a spinning wheel by answering an ad in the Pennysaver even before the wheel was listed!

While Genevieve and I were talking in the house, Wayne was discussing chair caning with Richard. It seems that Richard also enjoys restoring old chairs. He offered an old rocking chair to Wayne to take home to learn and practice the art of chair caning. (We didn't have room tonight so that project will have to wait!)

As we drove home tonight Wayne and I marveled over how God directed our path to this excellent deal so Wayne will have the materials to make cut glass projects, which may become a source of income now that his back issues are being addressed. To meet a couple who enjoy the traditional handcrafts which Wayne and I enjoy so much and to be able to ease their load was such a blessing. In addition to all this, finding a working, antique spinning wheel for less than a new wheel is such an unexpected 'gift'. We are abundantly blessed.