Spun by Me

Owl

2012-02-02T00:02:00.004-05:00

This little light of mine

I'm gonna let it shine

The stone owl is courtesy of my friend Patricia. She finds the perfect stone, paints it and mounts it and sells it too! I bought this one for myself. I also bought one for my daughter-in-law Johanna...it's the first photo in this post. Patricia has an Etsy shop but it's empty right now. Hopefully she'll be filling it up soon. Maybe not too soon because we're having another arts & crafts show in her home studio the end of March and we need to fill that up first. Guess I better get busy creating!

Caleb

2012-02-01T00:02:00.005-05:00

Early last Fall I started gathering ideas for handmade Christmas gifts for my grandchildren. My intentions were good and I had a plan but things happened. Plans changed and handmade gift ideas were put aside. Except for one. Johanna put little, soft, stuffed owls on Caleb's Christmas list. I decided I could squeeze in some time to make something similar to these little guys.

But first I had to decide what to make them from. Fleece was my first choice and I knew just the place to buy some ~ the thrift store! I found three toddler sized fleece tops and one fleece blanket there and I paid a total of $4.74 for all four! I have enough "fabric" left for three or four more sets of owls! I washed and dried all the fleece and cut out a shape that I thought looked like an owl. Next came the stitching and the stuffing ~ with a bag of fiberfill that I found at the thrift store too! The eyes and beaks were cut from felt I already had, and then handsewn on. In about an hour I had four little owls for this cute little guy.

Hey! Who took my owls!?

So...it's a new year (that's a month over already...Yikes!) and the plan is back in place. Handmade treasures for my grandbabies. I have so many fun ideas on one of my Pinterest boards.

Caleb likes that idea!

This photo is from Caleb's mommy's blog.

I had to grab it.....'cause it makes me smile!

Hope it makes you smile too!

Raggedies

2012-01-31T00:02:00.002-05:00

Here's another peek inside that cabinet I mentioned in yesterday's post.....I know...it's a totally different look from the images I shared in that post. Many different things appeal to me. This cabinet is where I keep all those things I love that don't have a home anywhere else right now.

I love these Raggedies...they have the best faces!! The rectangular platter in the back was given to me by my dear friend Gail and the little strawberry girl was painted by my friend Anita's daughter. I met both Gail and Anita during the years I was part owner of a little shop called Agape' Gifts & Crafts. What a blessing to still have them in my life over eight years after the shop closed.

The "strawberry soda" bottle cap, doily and angel cut-out picture all came from thrift stores and the strawberry pin cushion was a gift I bought for myself at the York Folk Art show several years ago. The tin of Ginger belonged to my mom...she gave it to me when she moved. It's white with red & green graphics, so it's perfect for my home. Finally, that block with the letter "E", it was an ornament. It has graphics of vintage toys on four sides and on the remaining side it has the letter "R". Two letters important to my family....I was delighted to find it a couple years after Bill married me (then mother of Kevin & Joe). The perfect ornament for our family with two last names.

Candlewick

2012-01-30T00:04:00.003-05:00

These salad plates belonged to my mother-in-law....now they belong to me. The pattern is Candlewick-Clear by Imperial Glass Ohio. They're so pretty and delicate and sparkly. Unfortunately their beauty stays tucked inside my glass front cabinet. Candlewick is characterized by distinctive bead work - the "beads" can be different sizes on different pieces. I love to look at them....but I worry that I might break one of those beads off. The cabinet is next to my patio doors so the sun shines into it most afternoons....I love the sparkle that creates. I think the cabinet is probably a good home for these dishes! Beside they offer a very pretty spot for the little Josef Originals figurine ~ a sweet thrift store find.

It's a Giveaway! A Pillow for Me and a Pillow for You

2012-01-26T00:26:00.004-05:00

In December of 2010 I bought a pillow cover from Dayspring.com. I blogged about it twice....Here......and Here. Check out the links because these (with a flash) photos don't do this pillow justice. It's really pretty and I've enjoyed having it in my home. I was checking out the Dayspring.com after Christmas sale a couple weeks ago and guess what!? They had this beautiful pillow cover on sale. So I bought another one to share with one of you. Remember it's a pillow COVER. No pillow is included. It's flat, which makes for easy shipping for me!

If you'd like a chance to win the pillow cover please leave a comment on this post before February 5th. I'd love to know if you found any great after Christmas bargains.

If you'd like two extra chances to win this giveaway please visit the two links (at the top of this post) to my previous posts about this pillow. Then come back and tell me in a second comment what dates in Dec 2010 they were posted. That'll give you three chances to win!!

I'll announce a winner on Monday morning (Feb. 6th).

There's no extra chances if you mention the giveaway on your blog...but thank you if you do!!

"In quietness and trust is your strength..."

Isaiah 30:15

Simply Charm - ing!

2012-01-25T00:05:00.002-05:00

There's something quite delightful about getting a totally unexpected package in the mail. If that happy mail has anything to do with my grandbabies...well, that's absolutely perfect!

This charm was a gift from Angie of Hopemore Studios. Angie is a very talented artist ~ lucky me has several of her jewelry pieces. I blogged about a couple pieces in this post. My "grandbaby" charm is one of her newer jewelry styles....and I love it! I added a simple ball chain and it is ready to go! Now I can take these little ones with me anywhere!

Do you have a special photo you'd like preserved as a charm? Angie does custom orders on these photo pendants in her Etsy shop. You can find samples of them here. There are some pretty heart charms too! Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Arlington and a Celebration

2012-01-24T00:02:00.011-05:00

Arlington National Cemetery performs 27 to 30 funeral services each day. The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery honor those who have served our nation by providing a sense of beauty and peace for our guests. The rolling green hills are dotted with trees that are hundreds of years in age and complement the gardens found throughout the 624 acres of the cemetery. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

Bill's dad passed away on Nov. 17, 2011 and was interred in Arlington on Jan. 6, 2012. Bill's nephew and niece (from Michigan) came to visit this past weekend so we could celebrate their grandfather's birthday together. He would have been 94 years old on January 19th. Part of that celebration was making sure they got to visit Arlington. So half of our group of sixteen headed for Washington DC Saturday morning. It was our first visit.....Bill quickly walked ahead of us to look for his Dad.

In a couple months a permanent, a carved marble niche cover will replace the temporary paper tag that's in a vinyl pocket on this group of niches. It will have my father-in-law's and mother-in-law's names on it...along with his rank and branch of service, his date of death and of interment. We're allowed to put fresh flowers in cones in the bed that's below the niches. Flags are placed there for Memorial Day. We're looking forward to going again in the Spring. It's fortunate that we live only an hour or so away.
(In the photo above, Bill and David are looking at some of the permanent carved niche covers already in place.)

I've never been to Arlington in the winter time....it was beautful with the snow and wreaths. It was also very overcast and I was in a moving vehicle when I took this photo...so excuse the blur.

We all gathered at my house for New England Boiled Dinner (I'm sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the food preparation and eating...this is just a generic link in case you don't know what it is.) New England Boiled Dinner was my father-in-law's favorite meal. He'd eat it twice a week if Bill cooked it that often. Since he moved in with us we always had it for his birthday and this year would be no different.

After dinner we shared COSTCO cookies (another favorite of his) and stories about him. If you'd care to read some of the stories we shared you can click here...and start with the Oct. 25th post.
I printed out the photo and poem I shared in this blog post and framed them....one for each of his six grandchildren. His great-grandchildren will be getting special porcelain ornaments with a picture of "Super-Grandpa" on them...my friend Patricia is going to make them for us.

His six grandchildren, plus spouses or significant others, and four great-grandchildren. He left quite a legacy...I know he was very proud of each one of them.

Almost always........

Mona Lisa also visited from Michigan. She spent Sunday afternoon and early evening with me while malls and restaurants were being visited by the others. She was the quietest little thing. She's quite good at catch too! Mona almost made me think that having a little dog around might be nice. But I came to my senses after I returned her to her owners.

I remember my mother-in-law's memorial service...she had asked me to speak at it. After I was finished I went up to my father-in-law and asked "How did I do?" He said, "You cried too much. You need to just move on."

It was a lovely weekend...we celebrated the life of a wonderful man. It's time to remember his words. Don't cry too much and it's time to move on. It's time to find our new normal.

But, we're sure going to miss him!

Katie posted about Arlington on her blog today too!

She even got a picture of me!

Window Well Remedy

2012-01-23T00:02:00.002-05:00

This is my window well....plain and boring. Functional but pretty unattractive. I like to think of it as the "before" picture. While I was on my weekend outing with Tisha & Patricia I found the perfect inspiration for what I'd like an "after" picture to look like!

Here's the after! Isn't it wonderful?! My window well doesn't stand much chance of looking nearly as wonderful....first of all there isn't a window above mine. No shutters either. Just some plain old vinyl siding. The backyard fence is right up against one edge of the window well so a bench will be a little tricky too. But I love this inspiration and I think it's going to be on the summer "to do" list for sure!

A Celebration

2012-01-20T16:31:00.000-05:00

"Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." - Dr Seuss

We're having a celebration this weekend ~ Katie can tell you why.

I'll tell you more about it next week.

Have a joy-filled. memory-making weekend!!

For Mandy

2012-01-20T00:05:00.004-05:00

Dayspring

You're right.......it's time!

Love every minute of it!

PS. I'm good now......

Inspiration & My Wish List

2012-01-19T00:02:00.002-05:00

One of the best things about shopping trips is all the inspiration I gather. Like this "mirror" above a dresser in a bedroom display. I have a couple "empty" windows hanging on a wall in my living room. Adding mirrors and moving them to a bedroom never occured to me. Then inspiration struck.....

I've seen a lot of wall vases...but something about this one really spoke to me. In this case the vase is about ten inches long. When I saw it I also saw a wall in my house that this would look great on. I'm sure I can find the perfect empty bottle or jar somewhere in my house. Love projects that require no cash!

This throw is made from "felted" cashmere sweaters. It was so pretty and so soft. It's easy to felt sweaters, so I've decided to make a cashmere throw for myself. I found five cashmere sweaters at the thrift store last week...I spent less than $12.00 for them! After I find a couple more I'll get started on this project.

Covering notebooks is fun...I try to do a bunch for all the craft shows I'm in and also to give as gifts. They've always been covered in paper but the next batch will start with fabric. I love the texture & simplicity of these notebooks...maybe with a bird or some floral images instead of "Paris".

Maybe someday.......

I usually see something that I love to have but definitely would never buy because of the hefty price tag. It happened again on my recent shopping trip. I love this kraft paper holder. I would love to have something like it for my craft room but this one's $100.00 plus price tag talked me right into taking a photo of it instead! I'll just add it to my wish list on Pinterest.

Looking at the photo every now and then is almost as nice.

Penelope

2012-01-18T09:05:00.000-05:00

Recently I promised Penelope lunch and a shopping trip with Gramma.

Today is the day!

No, we won't wear the Santa hat...although I do love that it has a tiara attached to it!

Tinker Toys

2012-01-17T00:04:00.002-05:00

"Spool Holders"

I saw these on my recent "girlfriend" get-away.

A new use for some old toys.

Very clever...funny too!!

Empty Nest

2012-01-15T09:40:00.004-05:00

Mandy bought a condo late last fall and she has spent the last 2 1/2 months prepping and painting it. When my father-in-law became ill and then passed away she decided that she would put off her move until after Christmas...so she's taken her time moving her furniture and belongings into it. But 99% of her things are there now and tonight will be the first night she's spending in her new home.
I'm so happy for her.

She has this great new place to decorate and she's having so much fun doing that. Just look at all the great ideas she's been "pinning" onto her Pinterest boards!! Shopping is a whole lot more fun for her too. She's had some wonderful times at Homegoods, Target and the thrift stores, tracking down treasures for her new space. It looks so cute! I want to get some photos of it to share on my blog....you'll love it too! The colors she's chosen are so pretty and bright and fun. I'm so glad she has this beautiful place to call her own.
Really I am.

Alaine White - Pinterest

But it's very strange at my house right now. There were four of us less than two months ago and now it will be just Bill and I. It's the first time we've EVER lived anywhere by ourselves. When we married, Bill got a package deal.....me, 4 year old Kevin and 2 year old Joe. So it's going to be really different for us now. It's going to be really quiet...not that Mandy or Bill's dad were especially loud...but I've already noticed the change. Bill's dad was hard of hearing so the first thing I heard upon opening my front door was the television...turned up really loud. Plus in a lot of ways he needed us...and we're not needed like that anymore. Mandy hasn't really "needed us" in a long time...although I guess I like to think she still needs her mom. Actually she takes care of us a bit. She's a good cook and she likes to cook. I guess dinners will be different too.
She's not moving very far away at all....but I'm sure going to miss the daily visits, the dozens of shampoo bottles in the shower, the shoes behind the front door, the late at night chats in my bedroom, the clothes left in the dryer....

Life changes...it's all different...but it's good. I am so happy for her!
I just need time to adjust.

I also need to remember that even though she won't be living with her mom and dad any longer, she'll always have her Father by her side. I know I can trust Him to watch over her better than I can.

One of the few "curly top" photos I have of Mandy...love this photo!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Lovely

2012-01-13T00:02:00.001-05:00

I spotted this on Pinterest and all of a sudden I'm hoping for a bit of a snowstorm! A picnic in the snow...how much fun would that be!

snow picnic - source

Bubbles

2012-01-12T00:02:00.002-05:00

Recently my friend Patricia remodeled one of her bathrooms. She remodeled...literally. She had someone do the framing and then she did the rest of the work to include the tiling of the shower. Not only did she install the tiles....she hand-painted some of them. The "bubbly" ones. I had a hard time with photos in this smallish space. Getting good angles was tough and the lighting gave me some issues too, but you can get an idea of the very FUN bathroom she ended up with. Please note the "bubbles" hanging from the ceiling!

Bubbles, Bubbles, in the Air,

Bubbles, Bubbles, Everywhere.

I love the glass bubbles she added to her hand-painted tiles.

In keeping with her bubble theme (and at her request) I made a collage for her bathroom. I added an oval charm to the middle of the vintage lace after this photo was taken. I wanted a touch of whimsy for the collage and found a poem recited by Grover on Youtube. I think it's the perfect touch. Hope Patricia thinks so too!

Shopping Discovery

2012-01-10T10:11:00.002-05:00

This past weekend two friends (Tisha and Patricia) and I went away for a weekend of food, fun, fellowship and shopping! One of my favorite shopping stops was Brandywine View Antiques. Three floors and a wrap-around porch full of treasures!

Tisha found a chair she loved...sadly it wouldn't fit in her car for the trip home!

I love these white cubbies and the metal drawers. Awesome storage options...don't you think!? The typewriter is pretty nice...I think maybe some little fingers got to it at some point.

A bucket of bottles....I love the bucket but it wasn't for sale. How about this green bottle wired to the stick? Love this! I think I'd like to make some for my back yard. Can't you just see a daisy poking out the top of the bottle...or maybe a candle! Hmmm...

I think these door knob stakes are an awesome idea. They would look so nice scattered throughout the yard......on a sunny day there would be sparkle everywhere!

I don't know what it is about wooden blocks but I love them ~ this pile is bright and colorful.

I seriously considered some of these gray crates. Room re-arranging is in my future and they would be perfect in one of the "new rooms". And the theater seats are awesome! Love the color of them ~ and I wish I had a spot for them somewhere!

Hello there Mr Deer.....he's hanging in the corner above the toilet. That might be a little disconcerting. Actually I took this photo for my boss...I wanted to show him other options for displaying his deer head.

I must admit this piece caused me to drool a little bit. Each of those old photos is a drawer...I LOVE drawers! It's my favorite wood finish too! And the cubbies on top are part of the piece! Oh the treasures I could display!

It was obvious that it was after Christmas and their inventory was picked over. When I got home I looked for them on the Internet and found their website...the shop was definitely stuffed full before Christmas! Here's a peek at a tour the owners shared on their website. (This is a fun store...I will return to it!)

The Wrap-Around Porch ~ The First Floor ~ The Second Floor

As if this place wasn't enough....look what's right next door. They were closed when we got there and we didn't make it back. I can only imagine what's behind that wonderful door! Guess I'll just have to go again!

Oh yeah!

2012-01-09T00:05:00.001-05:00

If it's January it must mean donuts!

Love this image!

Really love donuts!!

It's A Special Day!

2012-01-07T00:02:00.002-05:00

Elijah's celebrating his 4th birthday today!!

His parents (especially his mommy) have been working hard on his birthday party. Elijah is going to love it! Especially when he sees all the Angry Birds goodies that are being planned for him.

Happy Birthday to my favorite 4 year old red head!

Gramma loves you a huge bunch!!

party animal blog

PS. The party animal blog has lots of fun party ideas including a link to these VERY cute pom-pom angry birds. Too cute!

Cubbies

2012-01-06T00:01:00.002-05:00

It's been over a month since I posted a peek at my Cubbies ~ I think it's time for another one! There's a glimpse of a glass bird that I found at the thrift store and a pretty porcelain bell made by my friend Patricia. There's also a ball of twine, a cherished heart and, yes, that is a Christmas pickle in a jar!

But want I want to focus on are the chains hanging on the hook. I love to look at clearance jewelry and thrift store jewelry...I love to buy it too. I found these chains at JC Penney for about $3.00. Not each...all of them. The photo doesn't show the length...but there's about 35 feet of chain hanging there...plus the fluffy tulle flower came with it. Of course I had to buy them!

"Someday" I'm going to re-purpose these into some fun necklaces a la Me. I have so many "someday" projects...now that the hustle bustle of Christmas is past I hope to get to some of them. But first.....

How about you....any "someday" projects lurking aorund your house?

Jenny Doh

2012-01-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

One of the hazards of blogging is INSPIRATION OVERLOAD and one of the blogs that causes this for me is Jenny Doh's blog ~ Crescendo.com. She has some of the best tutorials....and some of the most awesome ideas. I can get lost in her blog. In fact I did....for about two hours yesterday afternoon. Checkout some of the great ideas I found. (I think I "pinned" about two dozen Jenny Doh creations.)

Her tutorials make everything look like I can make it....even if I haven't a clue! Many of Jenny's projects are going on my "To Do" list for 2012...along with a whole lot of inspiration to put to good use in my own creating. I hope you stop by and visit her....if you do make sure to peek at her Tutorials~Projects~Products~and Techniques. As of 12/17/11 there are 289 posts in these four categories. Talk about Inspiration Overload!! : )

This is one of my personal favorites in her idea file....love the buttons!

Time to Smile!

2012-01-04T00:05:00.004-05:00

Cheese!!

She's got a good eye....don't you think!

One Little Word

2012-01-02T15:00:00.006-05:00

In 2010 I decided that my word of the year would be rest and in 2011 I focused on the word simplify. I had some success focusing on the two words during their respective years...at least for some of each year. But I discovered that my discipline in re-visiting my words throughout the year disappeared a lot faster than the year itself. I really want this year to be different!

I started thinking about what my "One Little Word" should be for 2012 about a week ago....and it's been difficult to make a decision. But I did and I'm sure it's the very best word for me to focus on for 2012. Quotes I read on other blogs and the New Year's Day message at my church confirmed that for me.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time,

because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:13-17

"I don’t really want more time;

I just want enough time.

Time to breathe deep, time to see real & time to laugh long,

time to give You glory & rest deep & sing joy…

I just want time to do my one life well."

Ann Voscamp

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

So my One Little Word is TIME. I want to focus on my time. How I spend it. Wisely? Or not so much? I want to make the best possible use of my time. The BEST possible use of the time the Lord has given me.

Time to sleep, time to live, time for health, time for Bill, for my children and my grandchildren. Time for friends and food and fun. Time to create, time to read, time to be, time for joy, time for me. Time for now...because the past is done and the future may never come.
Most of all time for Him...time for obedience, time for worship, time for gratitude, time for prayer and time to study. Time to try to know Him as well as He knows me.

I'm linking up with The Lettered Cottage for

This Little Word of Mine.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.034-05:00

From My Family to Yours!

My family......quite the group! They are the most precious gifts the Lord has ever given me. I am so very blessed to call them my family! They are what I am most grateful for as we move into this new year!

Bill, our daughter Amanda and me.

Our son Kevin, Penelope and Jacqi.

Our son Joe holding Elijah and Johanna with Caleb.

Our daughter Katie with Mark and Charlotte.

Elijah, Grandpa, Charlotte, Penelope, Gramma and Caleb.

These are the best times!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Thank You

2011-12-30T01:28:00.001-05:00

Thanks so much for reading my blog this year! I'm sure you have many other things to do and lots of blogs to visit, so it really means a lot to know you stopped by and spent a few minutes here with me.

I hope you have a wonderful and safe New Year's weekend!

My Dress Form

2011-12-29T00:05:00.002-05:00

I love dress forms! In fact I have a board on Pinterest dedicated to them....it's called Dress Forms. Clever don't you think?! Someday I'd like a large dress form to display somewhere in my home but right now there isn't room for that. But there's plenty of room for this wonderful piece. It's one of my favorite Christmas gifts and it was given to me by my husband Bill. It's meant as a place to display jewelry but Bill knew I wouldn't use it for that. He knew it would find a home in my craft room....and it will. I'm not sure what I'll display on it....maybe tags or strings of buttons...but for sure, some kind of doo-dad or two will find a home on it.

Pretty wonderful....don't you think!!

Caleb

2011-12-28T00:02:00.002-05:00

Caleb has plumped up nicely since his tummy surgery. Have you ever seen a rounder face? This little guy is the most solidly packed baby I have ever seen. We were concerned before his surgery because he was losing weight....no more concern in that area! I thought for about a day that Elijah's little brother would have dark hair but, as you can see, we have another little red head!!

These saucer toys are the best invention! There are a ton of things "ATTACHED" that he can play with ~ about the only thing he can't play is the "drop the toy and let mommy pick it up" game! Caleb's favorite part of this piece of baby equipment seems to be the seat. He bounces and bounces and bounces. Those little legs are getting quite the work-out! Such a sweet little face!!

Uh oh! Looks like someone said something that made Caleb sad. I sure don't want any of my grandbabies to be sad, but I have to say that this little guy looks adorable with a frown on his face!

Of course, he looks way, way better when he's smiling! Look at his dad sneaking a peek!

Sweet dreams....sweet baby boy.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T02:18:00.001-05:00

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:9-12

Hark! The Herald Angels sing,

"Glory to the new-born King;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations, rise.

Join the triumph of the skies.

With th' Angelic Hosts proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"1

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new-born King."

Have a joy-filled Christmas!

Dining Room & Kitchen

2011-12-23T00:02:00.038-05:00

We've been working on the living & dining rooms and the kitchen on and off this year. All the walls got a fresh coat of paint and we bought new window treatments...they're hanging in the dining room, but the living room draperies are in a drawer. I'm thinking next year.....

I have a new fixture for the kitchen...I got a great deal on a chandelier on Craigslist. It needs paint job before it gets installed. We're thinking of something like this to replace the fan in the dining room. But finished or not...I'm really happy with the Christmas look in these rooms this year. I'm not so happy with the look of the dining room table...we were wrapping packages! That is a totally natural look though. We use that table every day and it always has something piled on it!!

We'll be mounting another rod in front of the current one shown here...I have an old crocheted tablecloth that will be re-purposed into a valance for the patio door. Another "next year" project.

I was hoping the Amaryllis would bloom for Christmas....that's not going to be happening! This little vignette sits on an old cupboard door on one of my highchairs. When it's time to use the chair we'll just pick up the cupboard door and move the whole display.

I love my new red bird ~ thank you Peggy! He works perfectly with this old birdhouse made from barn wood. Those are my very favorite quilts stacked there ~ I found the second one from the top at the thrift store several years ago. It's a twin size and it's beautifully quilted. What a deal it was too!! $2.89 plus tax!!

These silly guys came home with me from the last craft show I went to. They were living in a big basket with about a dozen other cats...now they're living way up on top of my hutch. The gold one and the white one are made out of sweater sleeves and the black one is from a piece of wool. They were selling for a whopping $3.00 each!! The same vendor made my new "Turn on the Twinkle" raggedy too!

We built this wall between the living and dining rooms about ten years ago. I like defined spaces ~ I also like these cute little elves!

Another peek at my tree. This time with the lights on. Bill bought the Poinsettias for me. This one is sitting in a pretty basket now...no more plain green pot!

When we added the wall between the living and dining rooms we also removed most of the wall between the dining room and kitchen. We gained much needed counter space and also some cabinets below it. These old tool box came from an auction. I bid $10.00 and no one else bid higher...lucky me!

The bottle and glasses are from Ikea. They're just waiting for some Egg Nog. The little mugs are for hot chocolate for the grandbabies. I found them at Crate & Barrel. Actually I saw them on the cover of a sales brochure and had to go and get them. I think it had something to do with the "cuteness" of the little guy modeling with the mug!

Well......back to the wrapping! I'm almost done. Thanks for visiting!

My Living Room ~ Decorated

2011-12-22T00:01:00.003-05:00

I finished decorating my living room last weekend and I'm very happy with the results. Little vignettes scattered throughout the room make me happy.

No plastic ornaments this year. I'm back to using all the ornaments I've collected over the years. Elijah, Charlotte and Penelope are (hopefully) old enough to understand that they shouldn't touch...and Caleb isn't mobile enough to reach them!

The bookcase is my favorite piece of furniture...it was given to us about thirty years ago by Bill's parents. They had it hidden away in their basement. It's a beautiful piece of furniture and the only piece that has always "lived" in the same spot in our home.

I like to cover the picture in the frame above the bookcase with wrapping paper at Christmas time ~ this is the second year I've used this pattern..I love poinsettias!

This creamy white cupboard was purchased about 18 years old, with the intention of painting it. I still intend to paint it. Then there's that mirror that I asked for "Opinions Please". I still haven't made up my mind about what to do with it. Someday I will. The white cupboard is a "Christmas Cupboard" all year round. Manyof my favorite decorations are stored inside. The cupboard is in an alcove behind the front door..the perfect spot for a bit of Christmas every day!

Charlotte

2011-12-21T00:01:00.002-05:00

Seems like I haven't spent a lot of one on one time with Chalotte and there aren't many new photos of her lately.

So since it's Wednesday and time to feature one of my grandbabies I decided to visit Katie's blog and "borrow" some of her photos of Charlotte.

Halloween 2011 - The Garden Gnome

Charlotte is loving this great pile of leaves and I'm loving those cute little pony tails in her hair.

Charlotte's Nana lives in England - love the little tribute she's wearing in her hair. Nana is visiting Charlotte right now and Charlotte is loving every minute of it!

Dear Santa.....

Charlotte loves hot chocolate...actually Charlotte loves whipped cream!

Pinned It and Did It!

2011-12-20T00:10:00.007-05:00

Look what I did Sunday night! I made some Christmas gifts for some special people in my life....all twenty-six of them! I don't see them often, but I love them a bunch and I wanted to let them know that I was thinking of them! When I saw this idea on Pinterest I thought it would be perfect! The version I "pinned" actually involves microwave popcorn...but I had already seen the same idea using Hershey bars.

So that's what I used to make mine.

26 Hershey bars!! Yum!

Laurie Furnell offers a REALLY cute freebie to use as the wrapper.

Supplies Needed

Hershey Bars

(I used the regular size...the ones sold as singles in a lot of stores.)

Computer paper

(To print the wrapper on.)

Felt for a Hat

(I like green 'cause the heart is red.)

Twine

(My choice was red.)

A Sparkly Something for the Scarf

(Some tinsel garland worked perfect.)

Then it's easy after that. Tape on the wrapper, add the hat with a bit of hot glue and then tie it with the twine. Add a sparkly scarf and there you have it. Snowmen a-plenty! I'm making several more using the slightly larger KING size Hershey bars. Hope you get a chance to make some. So easy and so sweet!

A Little More from Lucketts

2011-12-19T00:11:00.001-05:00

This blue bird came home with Mandy....perfect for her new condo! Did I mention she bought a condo? And so the empty nest begins.....

Remember the green head in the last post? Here's a white one in action.

Lucketts

2011-12-16T00:02:00.003-05:00

My shopping trip last Monday was to Lucketts in Virginia. I spent four whole dollars....but I gathered hundreds of dollars of wonderful ideas. The inspiration began in the parking lot...love these red doors!
Not too sure about that green head though! It has a hole in the top about the size of a ping-pong ball. Hmmm...maybe it's a vase!

This display belongs to Miss Mustard Seed - she had lots of fun things. It was great to see the creativity of a fellow blogger in action!

I LOVE these plant stakes! What an awesome idea! How pretty would these be scattered around the yard, reflecting bits of light everywhere?!

This is one of my favorite bits of inspiration! A wire cage over a candle. I think this looks wonderful. But the cage was a bit hot...so this probably won't be putting in an appearance at my house anytime soon. Too many little fingers full of curiosity. But I'll keep the idea tucked away for someday!

I have a lot more photos to share...Lucketts is one of my very favorite places to visit. But for now - it's back to trying to get my house in order for Christmas.

Happy a joy-filled weekend!!

Penelope

2011-12-14T18:09:00.003-05:00

I got another chance to have a little one on one time with one of my grandbabies. Tuesday night Penelope spent a few hours with me. We had a great time playing with Gramma's necklaces, watching a Christmas show on TV, eating dinner together and checking out ornaments on Gramma's tree. That was Penelope's favorite thing to do!

The next photo shows Penelope reading a tiny little book ornament. It's one of four that I bought for my children long ago. She's looking at the book that belonged to her daddy and that's him in the photo on the tree.

She decided that she wanted to spend the night and put a pillow under the tree. She grabbed a soft, fuzzy blanket and her stuffed kitty and laid right done. Then she said, "Gramma the tree looks different from down here!" That led to 30 minutes more of checking out the ornaments ~ from a whole new perspective!

Then I had to bundle this sweet thing up and take her home. We had a wonderful evening...this sweet little girl and I. She is such a dear...and quite the character too!

One of her new favorite phrases is "Oh come on...!" ~ said with feeling. That's what she just finished saying when I snapped this photo.

Turn On The Twinkle

2011-12-13T00:04:00.002-05:00

The past three days have been busy...I got our Christmas tree up and decorated and I went on a shopping trip with my daughters and a dear friend. Here's a peek at the tree and a peek at where we went shopping. Sure hope you're enjoying your Christmas preparations!

The Light of the World

2011-12-09T00:04:00.002-05:00

I haven't done any Christmas decorating yet...maybe this weekend. But I do have a bit of "the reason for the season" decor on display. This little figure has lived in a corner of my kichen cabinet for many years. She sits there all year long....sharing a very important message with us each time we reach in to get a plate or a bowl.

It's a most wonderful message....the best news of all!

I hope you have a joy-filled weekend!

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and

praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Green

2011-12-08T00:04:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday we (Mark, Mandy and I) cleaned out gutters and raked leaves. I couldn't resist taking some photos of this little patch of moss in the back yard. It's growing in a little crack in one of the landscaping timbers that edge the brick walkway. The grass and the moss are still so pretty and so bright green. But a cold front is coming...I don't suppose this little patch will last much longer.

Grandbaby Gifts

2011-12-07T06:09:00.000-05:00

I'm hoping to finish a few handmade toys for my grandbabies for Christmas this year. At this point all I've done is gather the supplies and some inspiration. Now to find the time! I thought you might like to see some of the inspiration (or should I say "Pinspiration") I've found. Here's a peek at some of the "pins" on the "board" I call "Peg & Spool Dolls". Please visit the board to find links to these cute dolls and more. I need to get busy now!

Wait

2011-12-06T01:08:00.000-05:00

Each Christmas my boss (Geoff) generously treats us to a Christmas lunch or dinner. He's taken us to some very nice restaurants over the years....and I've enjoyed each one very much. But my favorite Christmas get togethers are the ones we have at his home. Last year we had a lovely luncheon there. We closed the office for about a couple hours...after that Geoff went back to work and left us to enjoy another hour or so with his sweet wife. This year we'll be getting together for dinner at their home...tonight! We'll be going to his home right after work for dinner and our gift exchange. I love to try and make gifts for my boss, his wife, and my two co-workers....I didn't get everything done that I would have liked, but I'm happy with what I did manage to finish.

This little sign is one of my gifts for Peggy...Geoff's wife. The word "wait" has some significance for her. I wanted to put it together with the verse from Psalms because by itself, "wait" can be kind of a depressing word. When we remember we're waiting on the Lord and His timing we can "wait" with anticipation and joy.

I hope she likes it and I also hope she's to busy getting ready for our dinner tonight to stop and read or look at my blog today!!

Note To Self

2011-12-05T00:38:00.000-05:00

Right now we're praying that the Lord will help us as we try to settle into our new "normal". We know He will....

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart:

wait, I say, on the Lord."

Psalm 27:14

Cubbies

2011-12-02T00:02:00.005-05:00

Well technically this isn't in a cubbie ~ but it is hanging right next to one.

I started making these star ornaments with the baby Jesus on them several years ago. This particular one is made with a paper mache' star. I painted it yellow/gold and added a few lines with a marker. Baby Jesus is a circle of wood glued to half of a popsicle stick, wrapped in a strip of muslin, and then carefully laid on a bed of "hay" made from raffia.

I love Christmas....a lot! But I love Jesus way more than Christmas and it's my prayer that my children and grandchildren feel the same way. It's fun to share photos of all our Christmas decorations and I plan on doing some of that. But first I wanted to share this ornament ~ because CHRISTmas begins with CHRIST.

I hope you all have a joy-filled weekend!

Cozy

2011-12-01T00:02:00.001-05:00

I found this on Pinterest last night and it made me smile ~ hope it makes you smile too!

Cozy ~ enjoying or affording comforting warmth and shelter especially in a small place.

Elijah

2011-11-30T00:49:00.001-05:00

I got to watch Elijah and Caleb Saturday afternoon while their parents went to lunch and a movie. We had way more fun than they did! These dinosaurs belonged to Elijah's daddy when he was a little boy. Elijah loves them as much as Joe did. He had a great time helping the dinosaurs climb "Bird Mountain" as he called it.

The dinosaurs were so tired when they got to the top - they all laid down and took a nice, long nap!

After they all got down from the "mountain" it was time for a quick game of "you can't see me Gramma!" Lucky for me that Elijah finally peeked out....he's such a sweet face to see!

I love when my whole family gets together but it's an extra-special blessing to have a little one on one time with my grandbabies. Two on one time is also special...but Caleb was sleeping when I took these photos.

Have a Happy Wednesday!

Made By Me

2011-11-29T00:02:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the things I made for our arts & crafts show.......

A bottle brush tree on a silver tray.

Bottle cap pins ~ these are so fun to make and to wear! I only sold a couple of these so I guess I'll do a bit of Christmas shopping right here!

I love these jars of matches....cute & practical! There's a good size "strike pad" glued to the bottom of the bottle. My little sign suggests that these would be perfect to include with a candle.

My little walnut pin cushions...I made a dozen all together. I packaged most in a bag with a crinkly paper and tied them up with a bow.

I used to dress and/or accessorize hundreds of bears but now I only do a few of them at a time. I made three of these cute little wintery bears and sold each one! I also gave a fourth away as my contribution to the door prizes we offered at our show.

Now I'll spend my creative time making some Christmas gifts. I've "pinned" some cute ideas on my "Grandbaby Fun" board. I'm looking forward to making a bunch of peg dolls and a couple other things too!

Craft Show

2011-11-28T00:01:00.002-05:00

I have some talented friends.....Patricia, Tisha, Joann and Allison are their names. We recently combined our creations and held a three day "arts & crafts" show in Patricia's new home studio. I thought I'd share some pictures from the show.

"Owls on a Branch" by Patricia. I bought this little family of four. It's a gift for Johanna...it's okay to tell because she picked them out!

A beautiful scarf knitted by Tisha - it was my favorite of the knitted pieces she brought for the show.

Lots of beautiful florals by Allison. A sweet wreath on a stand came home with me.

A mannequin full of jewelry by Joann. She shared some wonderful display pieces for the show.

Patricia, Joann and Tisha.....I never did get a picture of Allison!

The show took place on the 17th, 18th and 19th of November. My father-in-law passed away on the 17th so the whole weekend was pretty much a blur. I didn't help at the show as much as I would have liked to...but I have great friends and they all understood. For a "first annual" arts & crafts show I'd say it was a success. Patricia's studio was the perfect setting for a wonderful show. More photos to come.....

Black Friday

2011-11-25T00:05:00.002-05:00

Here's an extra easy way to enjoy a Black Friday Bargain!

My daughter-in-law Johanna is hosting an awesome giveaway on her blog. It's for a $30 gift card to one of her favorite stores!! The giveaway is in honor of her "soon to arrive" 30th birthday! The store? Well, there's a really big "hint" over there on my sidebar...up at the top!

Blessings to you on Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-24T00:05:00.001-05:00

We have all received one gracious blessing after another.

John 1:16 NLT

Ain't Life Grand!

2011-11-23T00:26:00.003-05:00

Someday I'll get all four to look at the camera at the same time!

But for now, this photo makes me happy just the way it is!

Pinned It and Did It!

2011-11-22T00:26:00.005-05:00

I made a few things last month. Here's two of my creations. I made them as part of a dear friend's birthday gift. The little knitting basket was inspired by THIS. I don't knit so I made the basket out of scraps from a felted sweater. I love the colors of the yarn tucked inside the basket!

The heart was also inspired by something I saw on Pinterest but I never "pinned it" so I don't know who to give the credit too. Three fabric hearts stacked and then stitched together. Then I stamped "friend" on another little bit of fabric and added it to the stack of hearts. It has a tiny little magnet on the back of it. Perfect "little something" to tuck inside a greeting card....don't ya think?

Thank You

2011-11-21T00:05:00.011-05:00

I was going to try and reply to or visit everyone who commented on the posts about my father-in-law ~ but quite honestly I just don't have the energy. But I certainly do thank you all for your kind words and your prayers. They have been such a blessing to me...and to the rest of my family.

My father-in-law was 93 years old, we knew he wouldn't live forever....but his health changed so quickly. He was in the hospital for nine days. Unfortunately they weren't very good days. Bill and I were deeply troubled by the lack of compassion demonstrated by most of the medical staff caring for him. Toward the end of the nine days (as his health declined very rapidly) we were praying for a swift move into the local Hospice home. Dad mentioned to Bill at least twice that he didn't want to stay in that hospital. He was transferred to the Hospice home on Wednesday the 16th at about 10:00 AM. Twenty eight hours later he was gone. We are so grateful to the staff at Hospice - the twenty eight hours there were such a huge contrast to his hospital stay. Because of certain things that happened we are positive he knew he wasn't in the hospital any longer. Events over his last two days also left me with the real hope that he is safe in the arms of Jesus.

The past three days have been difficult....but we seem to be taking turns having difficult moments. So there's always someone to support the other in those moments. It's funny, but my worst moments come when I'm brushing my teeth. Almost every day while Dad was in the hospital I would help him brush his teeth. His mouth was so dry and he so enjoyed brushing and rinsing his teeth...every one of them his own by the way. At least five minutes of brushing and he wanted his toothbrush full of toothpaste. I was accused of being stingy with toothpaste one night! : ) This was his last real pleasure, and I can see him brushing his teeth thoroughly and vigorously every time I brush mine.....

Dad

2011-11-18T08:27:00.001-05:00

William Arthur

"Bud"

January 18, 1918 - November 17, 2011

Farewell

Farewell to Thee! But not farewell

to all my fondest thoughts of Thee;

Within my heart they still shall dwell

and they shall cheer and comfort me.

Life seems more sweet that Thou didst live

and men more true Thou wert one;

Nothing is lost that Thou didst give,

nothing destroyed that Thou hast done.

Anne Bronte

1820-1849

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort..."

2 Corinthians 1:3

Leaves

2011-11-16T13:01:00.000-05:00

I have a relatively small back yard and two very big Oak trees. My yard is very full of leaves from these trees.....to most of the grandbabies' delight. Caleb doesn't seem to be having quite as much fun as big brother Elijah and cousins - Charlotte and Penelope.

I "borrowed" this photo from my daughter-in-law's blog - Johanna has posted some fun fall themed posts lately. Here, Here & Here.

My father-in-law was moved to a Hospice Home this morning...it's a lovely place, filled with a very caring and considerate staff. It's a welcome change from the from the past nine days in the hospital.

I appreciate all the wonderful comments and emails in response to Monday's post.....and we are truly blessed by all your prayers.

Bed Sheet

2011-11-15T14:17:00.000-05:00

No, not a bed sheet....make that 12 napkins.

Nice job Katie!

My daughter has a neat blog and she shares some fun stuff on it.

Not to mention the photos of our favorite little curly top!

Visit if you get a chance...I think you'll enjoy yourself!

Bill's Dad

2011-11-14T00:42:00.003-05:00

My father-in-law has been in the hospital since last week Monday. Since I last posted about him his health has rapidly declined. He's been diagnosed with Stage IV B Lymphoma and his Oncologist has referred us to Hospice. We met with a Hospice nurse Saturday evening and Hospice care will begin sometime this week.

We're reeling from all of this....a month ago he was still doing his own laundry and watching his favorite game show. Six weeks ago he was still riding an exercise bike three times a day. Three months ago he still ocassionally drove his car. Now we're being told he probably won't make it until Christmas.

When Bill took him to the hospital on Monday we didn't think he'd never be coming back home again. The thought is overwhelming. He's lived with us for just about four years ~ but I can't remember our home without him. He's certainly made our lives better and richer. Four generations regularly under one roof...how cool is that! I just can't quite wrap my head around the "quickness" of all of this.

Please remember "Bud" in your prayers....pray for comfort and peace and most of all...his salvation. Pray for Bill too. He's the one who has to make all the medical decisions now because his dad isn't able to...and it's been so hard for him. Prayers for all of us please. Thanks so much!

Cubbies and a Winner!

2011-11-11T23:48:00.003-05:00

Well, here we are, back to the "cubbies" in my post office sorting box. The bottom two rows of cubbies are used for storage of things like soap and melts. The yellow (Lemongrass) and green (Cool Citrus Basil) soaps are from a company called OLEVANO. I picked them up at a craft show with the intention of giving them away. Like maybe in a Giveaway!

Yep! One Lemongrass and one Cool Citrus Basil are included in my Giveaway.

See there they are.....right there in that picture.

Now for the winner of the soap....and all the other goodies too ~ including the pretty box that isn't shown in the picture above.

The winner is:

"Deb"

Mosaic Magpie!

Congratulations Deb...please send me your address via email so I can get your package mailed to you.

Just look for the little e-mailbox on my sidebar.

Thanks everyone for entering my giveaway! Wish I had prizes for you all!

I Can't Believe It! (Giveaway Time)

2011-11-04T00:05:00.011-04:00

Giveaway has Ended.

This is my 1000th post....and my 40th month of blogging. I think that's pretty amazing. It's great to have this online remembrance of days gone by. Goodness knows I'd have forgotten so much of this stuff if it wasn't "written down". I love sharing photos of my grandchildren most weeks. That's the reason I started this blog. But it sure has developed into so much more, and oh the friends I've made! I never expected that. There's a handful of ladies who have truly blessed my heart. Someday I sure hope to meet them face to face. The encouragement I receive from them and others truly blesses me. I love everything about my blogging experience and I want to celebrate all these posts that have made the experience so much fun.

So it's time for my......

I bought this wonderful metal box just for this giveaway The glass insert in the lid is so pretty and the compartments inside will hold lots of treasures.

Like all these goodies! I made a 5x7 collage, a tiny notebook, the altered bottle and a little bitty candle with a "glow". I'm also tucking in a couple small bars of really wonderful soap...mostly because it will make the package smell very good!

Looks like there might be room for a few more little goodies too! I'll have to see what other lovelies I can find to tuck inside.

So there you have it....a box full of treasures from me to you. Please leave a comment on this post if you'd like a chance to win. You don't have to be a follower, but I'd love it if you were. If you have a blog and you'd like a second chance to win, I'd love it if you mentioned my giveaway on your blog. Just leave me a second comment telling me you did. I'll going to step away from posting for a week but I'll be back to announce a winner on my "Cubbies" post next Friday.

Update: This giveaway is open to everyone...no matter where you live!

Thank you to all my blogging friends...your visits mean so much. And thank you to all my local friends and my family. I so appreciate it when you tell me you read my blog...it's nice to know you're interested in what's going on in my world.

I bet most of you probably just stop by to see my sweet grandbabies....I don't blame you a bit!

********

One more thing....I found out yesterday that I won a giveaway from Daphne Nicole. I was SO surprised to see my name. One hundred sixty one entries and I was the lucky winner! Thank you Daphne!

Okay, just one more thing....check out the awesome giveaway at Trash to Treasures. Read about it in my sidebar...at the top!

Cast of Characters

2011-11-02T00:05:00.001-04:00

Elijah loves to play Angry Birds on his daddy's phone, so it was no surprise that a yellow angry bird was his costume of choice. I love the second shot ~ look at that cute, tired out, angry bird!

This is Charlotte the Garden Gnome and this is what she does when you ask her to give you a happy smile. I think she's giving me a "thumbs-up" in the second photo...or maybe a little Shirley Temple dance step!

Introducing Penelope ~ the pretty ballerina with the dirty knees and high-tops. The next photo shows her practicing a dance position. Plie' anyone?

Caleb did not enjoy his costume. He was a bit warm and a little cranky.

But he was the perfect red, hot chili pepper!!

Charlotte's momma works full time. She's very lucky because her momma's friend Christine is her nanny and even better, Christine has a little boy named Oliver. He'll be a year old next month. Charlotte and Oliver are best buddies and they love each other a bunch. I just had to include this photo of Oliver and his daddy (Joe-daddy as Charlotte calls him). Say hello to "Luke Skywalker" and the cutest "Yoda" you've ever seen.

This is post #999! I'll be back on Friday with a giveaway.

Happy Wednesday!

Pinned It and Did It!

2011-11-01T00:04:00.006-04:00

I'm having great fun with pincushions right now. This is the smallest one I've worked on. It's very similar to the inspiration piece. I have several others in the works. Some are neutral colors and others a bit brighter. I love making these ~ I love eating walnuts ~ I don't love trying to get the walnuts out of the shells without cracking them. Already empty shells would be very nice!

This is post #998! Two more posts to go!

Happy November! Yikes!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T00:05:00.002-04:00

I hope you get lots of treats and no tricks at all!

Photos taken by me ~ at a local produce market, all decked out for Halloween.

Cubbies

2011-10-28T00:05:00.010-04:00

Here's a peek inside a cubbie near the top of the post office sorting box. The little bird figure is from the dollar store ~ I thought the colors were so pretty. The heart was a gift from Diane Knott and it's the perfect touch next to the blue birds.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

God Gives Life

2011-10-27T00:05:00.001-04:00

I have this little Maple tree growing in my yard. The seed it started from flew across the neighbor's yard and landed in this pot many months ago. This is the first time the leaves on it have changed color. I thought I'd find a little poem about a maple tree to include with this photo but instead I found a website called 101 Object Lessons For Kids. The author is Patricia A. Meinerts and I think the object lessons are wonderful. They're geared toward 4 and 5 year olds....so you know I'll make good use of them!

On the website Patricia has a tab called "About This Project".

It's a good read. It begins with:

"Many people feel uncomfortable talking about God. Some wonder if He exists. The Bible has no such doubts. It starts out in Genesis with the words, “In the beginning, God created….” At the end of that chapter, it says, “God saw all that He had made and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31. God is very able, all-powerful and knowledgeable, and full of love for what He made, including all of us.

One of my purposes in teaching children has been to try to help them see and appreciate this great wonder-working God."

The link that led me to this website is her object lesson on Maple Tree Seedpods.

I've included most of it below.

Maple Tree Seedpods

By Patricia A. Meinerts

Also Called Samaras, Winged Fruit or “Helicopters”

Aim: To help the children: to know that God loves life and gives it generously in many interesting ways; to appreciate Him; and to trust Him.

Verse Illustrated: Genesis 1:11 “Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.”

Presentation: Show maple seeds (samaras) and demonstrate how they fly like helicopters and can stick on noses when they are fresh. Discuss God’s abundance and our response to it.

Interest Getter: What is this? (Drop a “helicopter”. Let the children see how it spins around.)

Lesson: This is the seed of a maple tree and is often called a helicopter because of how it flies. It’s real name is ‘samara’. Can you say that? Samara. Why do you think it flies like this? God made things that fly long before man made airplanes! But why did he make this one? What is this? Yes! This is a seed. It is alive! (Open seedpod and show children the seed) Give it a little water and it is sure to grow. God loves life and He wants these maple trees to keep growing, somewhere. These little samaras can float and go all kinds of places and plant new trees. If you plant a stone, will it grow? NO! God put life into seeds. He loves His creation and used seeds to keep it going. Do you know how many of these seed pods one tree has? 10? 100? So many! We cannot count them. God gives life and He gives it abundantly. He is generous.

He also puts little extra surprises in His creation. If the samaras are fresh and you open the thicker seedpod part, they are sticky inside and will stick on your nose. (Demonstrate). Samaras are fun playthings!

Application: God gives and gives generously. He made this world and wants it to continue. As you go around this week, see if you can see any seeds on other trees. They are there, but they are all so different you may not recognize them. Look carefully and you will see more of God’s wonderful surprising gifts of life! Tell us about them next week.

Conclusion: Who would have thought that a great big maple tree would come from a little flying helicopter! And that one tree would make enough seeds to plant thousands more trees! Not me! Only God is so clever and great that He can do that. And you know, He gives life to us, too. Life now, and wonderful life with Him in heaven forever, after we die, when we trust him as Lord and Savior! He is truly the great generous creator God! Let’s thank Him for His goodness and for life.

The Lord's timing is always perfect.

Maybe a certain 93 year old would like to hear some of these object lessons?

Little Diva & A Birthday

2011-10-26T00:05:00.019-04:00

All dressed up and no place to go! Actually, Penelope is just waiting for her mommy and daddy to finish getting ready. They'll be awhile if they're hoping to look as good as she does!

~~~~~~~

Happy Birthday to my daughter Katie.
I hope you have an awesome day!! I love you a bunch!

cupcakes by betz white

Dad

2011-10-25T00:05:00.006-04:00

My dad died when I was 15 years old ~ almost 41 years ago. For over 30 years Bill's dad has filled the roll of "Dad" for me. For the past 4 years he's lived with us. Life has been interesting having a (now) 93 year old in the household.

It's also been a real blessing!

Two weeks ago he chose to have surgery to remove some skin cancer on his head and since then his health and weight have been declining (actually the weight loss began a couple weeks before the surgery. But last night he felt well enough to sit through a hair cut with my daughter Katie. She's never cut his hair before and she likened the experience to cutting fluffy feathers. That means it wasn't easy! : )

But it was definitely worth it! He liked it!!

We talked for a long time last Tuesday night. He told me that he's pretty sure he's dying ~ he wishes it wouldn't take so long. He also told me he doesn't believe there's a God or a place called Heaven. He said he's had 93 years to reach that conclusion. I shared my faith with him and told him how glad I was that he had moved in with us. I told him how much we all hoped to spend eternity with him. I'm not sure if he's interested in having anymore talks with me...but I'm very interested in still talking with him. Please pray that I have (and take) more opportunities to share the Gospel with this dear man.

Pinned It and Did It!

2011-10-24T00:05:00.003-04:00

I Pinned THIS and got inspired!

So I gathered up some of these.....

Then I added a bunch of buttons and little images to my pile of goodies.

Next I found some pleated crepe paper....I love this stuff so much!

I bought it on Etsy......from Vintage Handmade by Julie Collings.

I put all this stuff together and made these. Oh, there's also a teeny bit of cheesecloth on them.

Some silver glitter too.....love glitter!

I'm pretty happy with them...they just need a little hanger thingy. I'll definitely be making more!

This is my 992nd post....who knew that I'd post on this blog ~ faithfully ~ for almost 3 1/2 years. I even have 192 followers. That's just crazy. Anyway, I feel like celebrating. So my 1000th post will be a GIVEAWAY! I figure I'll reach that post in a week or two. It'll probably take me that long to decide what to giveaway!

Stay tuned!

Cubbies

2011-10-21T00:04:00.019-04:00

Humphreys "15" ~ A Homeopathic Preperation

for

Rheumatic Pains

Established in 1854, Humphreys is still in business today.

Ahhh...my joints. I wish there was something left in this bottle!!

Happy weekend!!

Commercial & Giveaway News

2011-10-20T00:05:00.006-04:00

I don't watch much television so I don't see many commercials. But I caught a peek at this one the other day so I had to find it on YouTube so I could share it here.

I LOVE this commercial!
(Did you see the little "tear" of milk running down the glass? So sweet!)

My daughter Katie is having a giveaway on her blog....25 FREE photo greeting cards from Shutterfly!!
Click HERE to enter. You can also visit her giveaway by clicking on "shutterfly" at the top of my sidebar.

Sweet Cousins

2011-10-19T00:04:00.001-04:00

Caleb is doing so much better since his surgery. His tummy is working just fine now ~ as evidenced by those chubby cheeks. I think cousin Charlotte is in love.

Etsy Favorites

2011-10-18T00:04:00.003-04:00

Last night, I was totally worn out after a busy weekend and a long Monday at work. So I took a nap when I got home, enjoyed a yummy bowl of chili made by Mandy, and then I did a little window shopping on Etsy.

This is my very favorite season. I found some wonderful Fall creations on Etsy that I'd like to share with you. Please enjoy a little browsing with me.

acorns

Notebooks

2011-10-17T00:57:00.003-04:00

I picked up a bunch of little notebooks from Dollar Tree last year. They were four in a pack for $1.00! This year they're selling them as a three pack of slightly heavier notebooks. Either way a great deal!

Dollar Tree

They're fun, quick and easy to decorate. They're a great way to use up small pieces of paper and tiny embellishments because they only 3 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches in size. Here's a half dozen of them that I recently made. They're one of my favorite things to create!

These two are my favorites from this batch. Picking out the images is the best part...sometimes I take forever choosing them. Do you do that...do you debate forever over what picture to use or what button to add when you make something like this?

I hope you have a wonderful week.....doing whatever it is that gives you joy!

I'm linking this back to TODAY"S CREATIVE BLOG link party called

Get Your Craft On!

It's a link party full of wonderful ideas....last weeks party linked to almost 500 ideas!

Cubbies

2011-10-14T00:04:00.038-04:00

Here's another peek inside that old post office sorting box I have.

My daughters (and some friends) went on a trip to the Pacific Northwest...it was called their Dorks in Forks trip. I knew they would (at some point) be pretty near an Antiques Mall that I had read about on several blogs. So, hoping to live vicariously through them, I asked if they'd visit it and maybe buy their dear mother a treasure or two or three or....

Guess what? They did!

In fact they bought a small suitcase full of treasures! This sweet pair of size 1 baby shoes were included in the bounty. Such soft pink leather ~ worn out ever so gently as the tiny feet that wore them scooted about. My girls know just what I like! Thanks Katie & Mandy!

Little Gift Bags

2011-10-13T00:04:00.002-04:00

On Monday I shared some pincushions that I made. The pink "cupcake" pincushion was made using fabric from a child's chenille jacket. These gift bags were made using the sleeves from the same jacket...cuffs and all!

I added a couple bottle caps to the photos so you could see the size of the bags. The perfect size for a tiny treasure. Maybe something like the little pins & magnets I'm going to make with these bottle caps.

The silver flower is a brad with bling from my scrap booking stash and the daisies are an old vintage earring. These bags were quick and easy...one seam each was all I needed to sew. I wonder if I can find any other cute sleeves in the house!!

Grandbaby Fun

2011-10-12T00:10:00.003-04:00

I'm sure many of you have heard of Pinterest - in a nut shell...it's a whole bunch of "bulletin boards" with a whole bunch of ideas!

One of my favorite things to look for on these bulletin boards is ideas for things that would be fun to "make with" or "make for" my grandchildren.

Here's some of my favorite finds....they're "pinned" to my "Grandbaby Fun" board.

Wow....between craft shows and handmade gifts for family (and friends too I hope) I'd best get busy!

Come Little Leaves

2011-10-11T00:01:00.002-04:00

"Come, little leaves,"

Said the wind one day,

"Come over the meadows

With me, and play;

Put on your dresses

Of red and gold;

Summer is gone,

And the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves

Heard the wind's loud call,

Down they came fluttering,

One and all;

Over the meadows

They danced and flew,

Singing the soft

Little songs they knew.

Dancing and flying

The little leaves went;

Winter had called them

And they were content-

Soon fast asleep

In their earthy beds,

The snow laid a soft mantle

Over their heads.

American poet George Cooper (1838–1927)

Pincushions

2011-10-10T00:37:00.003-04:00

My weekend FLEW right by but I did manage to create a couple little pincushions. I'm going to have to kick my creating into high gear...two things a weekend aren't going to amount to much for the mid November craft show!

This pincushion is made from a piece of an old tablecloth. I love the pretty blue and all the french knots. The base is an old wooden spool with ribbons and lace trimming it ~ I might add a little button or two.

Here's another tart pan pincushion ~ my first one is here ~ it's filled with a piece of pink chenille from a sweet little baby jacket. The little roses covered the snaps on the jacket. It reminds me of a cupcake!

I'll be making a few more "cupcakes" and also some little gift bags out of the sleeves from the pink jacket. Hopefully I'll squeeze them in this week!

Have a great Monday!!

Cubbies

2011-10-07T00:04:00.001-04:00

In THIS July post I shared a tour of my craft room. One of my favorite pieces in that room is this old post office sorting box. I'll be sharing peeks at what I keep in and on this piece each Friday ~ at least until I run out of cubbies!

Here's a few of my tea infusers ~ I love the color and the shapes...dents and all! Another one of my infusers is filled with lavender and hanging in a closet.

Neat idea if I do say so myself!

Acorns

2011-10-06T06:00:00.001-04:00

I'm thinking about making more sparkly acorns and that means I need more acorn caps. Maybe these little guys will go out and find some more for me to use. Shouldn't be too difficult for them since there's two big oak trees in my yard.

Cute aren't they!? They were a gift from a friend.....thank you Regina!

Fun With Photos

2011-10-05T00:04:00.024-04:00

Photo Booth

Billboard

Pencil Sketch

Vintage

Playing with Photofunia is just plain fun!

A Wonderful Tree

2011-10-04T00:04:00.004-04:00

I met this tree last Sunday. Isn't it marvelous! I'd love to picnic under it, or build a treehouse in it, or climb it, or hang a tire swing from it and swing so high.

But it's not my tree. It's on the grounds of a historic home that I visited.

So I took photos of it. It will be nice to look at them and think of all the wonderful things my grandchildren and I could do if this were our tree.

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. ~Martin Luther

*******

I found this photo saved on my laptop...so I can't credit the source. But wouldn't this be another great thing to do with this tree! Just imagine the singing you'd hear from all those happy birds!

Peek A Boo

2011-10-03T00:01:00.002-04:00

We did a little yard work this weekend. We trimmed back some bushes, raked some leaves and pulled some weeds.
But we didn't pull these weeds....'cause they looked so cute!

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

2011-09-30T09:38:00.001-04:00

I'll be spending half of mine working in the yard...it's suppose to be sunny and cool here tomorrow. My kind of weather!

I spotted this on Pinterest....a sofa reupholstered in mums!! Isn't it grand!! Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be doing anything quite so fun in my yard. But I guess anything is possible!

Opinions Please

2011-09-29T00:04:00.002-04:00

We (as in Bill) recently painted the living room walls ~ they were a light golden yellow and now they're a creamy vanilla color. I love the change! But now I need to change some of the things hanging on the walls. Like this mirror....

I bought this about ten years ago (thank you HomeGoods) and it's been hanging in this spot ever since. It's time for a change....but I don't want a different piece hanging here. I want this to look different. So I need some opinions.

My first thought was to leave it the color it is and fill in the flower painted area with book pages. Next I thought about painting it all black to match the chest of drawers beneath....maybe distressing both pieces. Or I could choose a shade of red, green, or yellow for a pop of color. Finally I decided I couldn't decide by myself.

Any suggestions?

Those are barn red draperies hanging to the left of the chest. They're being replaced....by curtains that are a bit darker than the walls....I think.

I'm so indecisive!

Dream....

2011-09-28T00:26:00.004-04:00

This is so totally true. I think it's time for me to set some goals and dream some dreams....and then go for it.

How about you? Anything you're putting off because you think you'd a bit too old to take the plunge!?

Calling All Mothers and Grandmothers

2011-09-27T10:07:00.003-04:00

My daughter Katie is looking for some advice.

Please visit her at her blog, *Explanation Required and see if you can help her out.

Thanks bunches!!

Yes ~ those are giraffes on Charlotte's feet!

He Has A Name

2011-09-27T00:04:00.002-04:00

Last week I introduced you to this guy........well technically I didn't introduce you because he didn't have a name.

But now he does! My friend Joan suggested the perfect name for him. I don't know why I didn't think of it....after all he's sitting on part of a dictionary!

So Blogland, I'm pleased to introduce you to.......

...Webster.

Perfect!!

Thanks Joan!

Pinned It and Did It!

2011-09-26T00:04:00.004-04:00

It's time to get a little bit of fall going in my house. I've never decorated much for any holiday except Christmas but this year there will be little, subtle touches of fall here and there. On Sunday I spent some time re-arranging a bit in my living room. I wanted to find a spot for my latest "inspired by Pinterest" creation.

Here it is...my dictionary page covered pumpkin! Easiest little bit of crafting I've done in a long time. It used to be a gold pumpkin with a gold stem. Then with the help of my Modge Podge, old dictionary pages and some black paint, it turned into this.....

Simple and sweet!

Here's a peek at my inspiration pumpkin....or as they say in French my "pompian". Thanks so much to Becky for sharing it on her blog ~ Junk To Joy!

Forever Reign

2011-09-23T00:04:00.004-04:00

"You are here, You are here

In Your presence I’m made whole

You are God, You are God

Of all else I’m letting go."

A friend of mine shared this video with me - thank you Tisha! I first heard Forever Reign a year or so ago and I really appreciated being reminded of this powerful worship song. So I thought I'd share it here....because I think you might enjoy it too!

I'm including an excerpt that I found online in a "behind the song" type of article. It's a quote from one of the co-writers of the song - Reuben Morgan.

"The message of the song is very confessional. Throughout the song we declare who God is, “You are good, You are love, You are light, You are hope, You are peace, You are joy and You are life.” At the same time, we combine that message of who God is with our response, “You are good, You are good, when there’s nothing good in me.” I hope the song enlarges God in our view of Him. We need to know that God is not diminished by our circumstances, doubts or our response."

Such a good message!

Fall Fun

2011-09-22T00:01:00.002-04:00

I found some fun fall decorating ideas on Pinterest ~ thought I'd share them. Sharing my Pinterest finds on my blog helps me feel a little better about all the time I spend "pinning". It kind of means that I'm really doing it for YOU!!!

Right? Yes...definitely!

Click HERE to see my entire FALL board.

Now I need to get back to "pinning"....so I can find more good stuff to show you!

Cousins

2011-09-21T00:01:00.001-04:00

Friends

Good Buddies

Note To Self

2011-09-20T00:05:00.003-04:00

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

Sometimes you just really want something off the grill.

Here's Kevin and Jacqi grilling chicken...barefoot....in the rain....in my yard....during the rainy days preceding that nasty Hurricane Irene. I have the best kids ~ every one of them!!

The Bird

2011-09-19T00:04:00.001-04:00

Well the weekend wasn't nearly as productive as I had hoped. I had some kind of bug for most of the weekend but I did manage to spend a couple hours in my craft room working on my bird. I think he turned out splendidly!!

He's wearing a party hat made from a piece of a dictionary page, some tinsel, a pink paper clip and a round button. It kind of looks like he has a little balloon coming out of his hat!

He's also wearing a "tweet" tag with a heart charm around his Apple Barrel "Bahama Blue" painted neck. I'm going to write his name on the tag....but I haven't decided what it is yet.

My inspiration piece used a toy wooden block as a base but I wanted something a little wider so I bought a small paper mache box. I covered the top and bottom with a dictionary page. Then I put a piece of floral foam in the bottom, added the lid and then poked holed in it for the legs. It's pretty sturdy....for a bird! I added the plaid bow and flower just because I could....and I think he's perfect!

I have two more birds to transform....I wish I would have bought more of these bird shapes because I'd love to make a whole flock of them!

Birds

2011-09-16T00:05:00.011-04:00

I found these paper mache birds in the $1.00 section at Michael's a couple months ago and I have been debating every since what I would be doing with them. They are definitely going to be getting a coat of paint or a new layer of some kind of paper because I'm not loving the funky newsprint...especially the "electric golf" phrase. But I haven't been able to decide whether they'd end up in a nest or hanging or flying or what.

But then I found this cute bird somewhere online. I'm so sorry that I didn't bookmark it....if you know whose design it is please let me know. Anyway, I love the legs on this guy! It doesn't show any feet but I think I'm going to use a single round base with two holes drilled in it for the legs. That should give it some stability. The hat makes me smile....so my birds will be sporting some type of head gear.
This project is on my weekend to do this! It should be fun!!

Thanks so much to the artist who shared this sweet bird....you have inspired me!!
Now all I need is a french fry. : )

UPDATE!!
Thank you to Angie of Hopemore....she found the artist who made this sweet bird on Etsy. Visit the shop called LINDASILVERTHORNE....you'll find some wonderful creations. My favorites ~ the birds, snowmen and elves!!

Note To Self

2011-09-15T00:10:00.002-04:00

etsy

And that's very happy!!

Hey!

2011-09-14T00:01:00.001-04:00

Where did the summer go........?

Here they are, getting ready to enjoy what may be their last swim this summer.
I sure do love that our pool is getting regular use by little ones again. But soon it will be time to close it up and the swimming will have to wait until next year.

Mossy Goodness

2011-09-13T00:04:00.002-04:00

We've had a lot of rain this month and a lot of rain last month. One of the things I've noticed since all the rain is this wonderful patch of very green moss ~ it covers an area about 2 feet by 3 feet. The moss is so bright and vivid. I've never seen this color in my yard before. Most of it is a darker green.

I looked around on the Internet and discovered that it looks a lot like Scotch or Irish Moss. I also found this photo (I forgot to save the link) showing this type of moss used around rock stairs. I love it ~ and I have a perfect spot for it too. Now to just find the time.........

Something New

2011-09-12T00:04:00.002-04:00

My daughter-in-law Jacqi and I went to the Antique Mall a week ago and I found this wonderful little strawberry pincushion wired onto this fabric covered box. Cute ~ right!? I think so!

Remember....

2011-09-11T00:05:00.005-04:00

....all those who died on September 11, 2001 and all those who have given their lives since then, defending our freedom. We must never forget.

"During our prayer time at Ground Zero, we will seek God for His continued protection, pray for those who lost loved ones, pray for our leaders and elected officials and turn to God in repentance recognizing only He can bring healing and restoration to our nation."

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition