Who would have thought you could knit chux! It was a handy hint that I took on board about a year ago and it so impressed me that I have gone a little dishcloth crazy. When I knitted my first batch to use myself, I was amazed at how brilliant they were. Much more efficient than throw away cloths and so much more environmentally friendly. They are also cost effective too because mine have been used for more than a year - I just throw them into a bucket of soapy water then wash them with my normal wash once a week - and they are still as good as new.

Any knitting cotton will work but I use the creme de la creme of knitting cottons - Lily's Sugar 'N Cream. At first I could only buy it from America/Canada but now Gabrielle at www.americanyarns.com.au is the exclusive seller in Australia. At this point I want to give a big bouquet to Gabrielle for her amazing customer service. Orders arrive the next day and are beautifully packed with a little extra included. When an item wasn't available I had a personal call from Gabrielle to suggest alternatives.

I will be putting some of my dishcloths in the shop for those of you who do not knit or crochet, or are time poor, but you can make your own quite simply - there are lots of wonderful patterns on the internet but I like to stick to the fairly plain pattern seen in the picture. And if you do decide to use Sugar 'N Cream yarn please support Gabrielle and say Hi! to her from me.

Today I have helped Akofa Ajavon get back on her feet and Janjol Rahimov stock up his grocery store....all without moving from my desk. Through Kiva www.kiva.org, I have loaned a small amount to help just two of the many, many people who live in less affluent countries and who are working hard to support their families. They are often in countries who charge so much interest on loans that they never can be re-paid. Through the KIVA organisation they can be loaned what they need then repay, and there is a 92% re-pay record, when able. When I get my money repaid I can re-lend and so the circle of help continues. What a wonderful and simple way of making a difference in the world. Please consider loaning $25 in this way. You can choose from hundreds of requests and follow their progress in your own online portfolio.

So let me tell you about Akova and Janjol....

Akova lives in Togo. Togo is a country in west Africa that gained its independence from France in 1960. Akova began selling charcoal and firewood in 2002. In this rainy season, part of her inventory has been spoiled by the rain. In order to replenish it, she asked for a loan to buy 20 sacks of charcoal and 15 of firewood. She is married and the mother of 3 children. With her income, she contributes to supporting the family. Today the $650 Akova needed has been loaned to her and I will be watching with interest and delight as she is able to re-pay the loan.

Rahimov Janjol is a successful father and dedicated husband living in Tajikistan He is married and has 7 children. Janjol has a good reputation. He is a very good family man so he loves his family and wants a good future for them. Janjol began a small grocery store 11 years ago with his savings. He was assisted by his son (pictured) who helps him with serving his clients. Today his clientele has grown greater and his grocery become more popular. He is asking for a loan of $475 so that he may expand the variety of goods that are sold in his store. Janjol is very grateful to everyone who is helping him to achieve successes in his business with this loan. $450 has already been loaned - can you be the one to lend him that last $25?

 

I came across this story the other day and want to share it with you.....

The sweet little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. “Oh please, Mummy. Can I have them? Please, Mummy, please!” Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl’s upturned face. “Four dollars ninety-five. That’s almost $5.00. If you really want them, I’ll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday’s only a week away and you might get another dollar from Grandma.”

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her money box and counted out 35c. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbour and asked Mrs.James if she could help her in the garden for fifty cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another dollar and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere — Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?” “Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you.” “Then give me your pearls.”“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess — the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She’s my favorite.” “That’s okay, Honey. Daddy loves you. Good night.” And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?” “Daddy, you know I love you.” “Then give me your pearls.” “Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper.”“That’s okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you.” And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. “What is it, Jenny? What’s the matter?” Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, “Here, Daddy. It’s for you.”

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny’s kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the $2-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had had them all the time. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real thing.

So it is with God. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in out lives so he can give us beautiful treasure.

This story made me think about the things I hold on to. God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

Have you noticed that the average child rarely eats 'plain' food. The staples of my childhood - boiled eggs, bread and jam etc. have been replaced with chips, preservative and sugar packed snacks, lollies etc. Yet it is the simple fresh food, gently and minimally handled, that remains in my childhood memories.

It was always a treat to visit one elderly relative who served the same meal each time - thinly sliced ham with tiny boiled potatoes dripping in melted butter. On the table would be a bowl of shiny red tomatoes bursting with flavour, another bowl of lettuce sparkling with the water they were rinsed in and fresh from the garden. Other dishes offered fresh cheese and home-made pickles.

Then there were the times we visited my paternal Grandparents in Wales. The drive there was long and arduous - we rarely went over 30 miles an hour - speeding my Mum called it - and I was a repeat offender when it came to car-sickness. But - oh! the meal that awaited our arrival - salad with hard-boiled eggs from the local farm, thick sliced gammon and home-made apple pie. Nothing 'fancy' as Nan would say but what a refreshing feast for my poor sick tummy.

When I was older it was my new Mother-in-Law's simply delicious home bakes that delighted me. Now I can delight my family in similar simple ways too. How special are the times I spend sharing boiled eggs (dippy eggs) with my youngest son.

Keep making those simply beautiful memories.