Calm Before the Storm

Tuesday was the last time I posted. It was a busy week - pretty good, just busy. There were times I thought about blogging, but really couldn't think of anything significant to blog about. Do you have weeks like that?

We live in southern Arkansas - about 15 miles from the Louisiana border. As you can imagine, Hurricane Gustav is on everyone's mind. Many people from the gulf have found their way to our town. At one point yesterday we thought my cousin and his family were headed our way. I guess all my cousins have decided to hunker down and stay there. They live west of New Orleans. We are praying for their safety.

Preparations for the storm are also being made here. We will likely have heavy rains and strong winds; possibly "tropical storm force winds." I really don't know what to expect. Should I move the furniture off the porch? Take the hanging flower baskets down? Will we lose power? I can't imagine living further south. Do folks just get used to hurricanes? Surely not.

This picture really doesn't have anything to do with my post. I just don't like posting without at least one photo. In our master bathroom we have an octagon window. In the early morning the sun shines in on these old bottles. I just like how it looks. I have no idea how to get the lighting right for a good photograph. I tried.

Please pray for the safety of those in the path of the hurricane and for those traveling out of the area.

{"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1}

Looking Back

What a busy day! I shouldn't even be on the computer. There is always laundry needing to be done, piles of papers from school to be sorted, things to get ready for tomorrow....but my stress is always lessened a bit by doing something creative.

Last week I stopped by the public library to check out a book. They always have a couple racks of discarded books and magazines for sale for 10 cents or something like that. This day, on a separate table, was a stack of magazine with a sign above them that said, "Vintage Magazines for sale $2 each." Must be special if they want $2 for them.

Ummm, yeah! I know you can't read the date on this beautiful magazine. Let me just tell you. October 1917. I ended up buying four magazines - three from 1917 and one from 1935. If you have never had a chance to look at vintage magazines such as these, you are missing out. I can't get enough of them! The illustrations are gorgeous; the advertisements are intriguing and the articles are quite informative!
So, even back in 1917 mother's needed a little help in guiding their children. I guess "positive parenting" is not a new term. (Remember to click on any of the pictures to get a better view. I should have scanned some of this. I can't scan full pages with my scanner because these magazines are huge!)
I love this! "Doing Things With Your Clothes: How to make something new from something old." The country was at war and times were tough. One of the ideas is to use old black gloves and some black velvet to make a pretty handbag.
I thought this was cute advertisement for blankets.
How about a new car? Just look at that price!

There is so much more I want to share. Does anyone know what copyright laws are regarding magazines of this age? I would love to scan some of the advertising images to share with everyone. I think that is okay to do, but I am really not sure. Oh, there is this full page of Halloween paper dolls. You will love them! I need to know the laws and I need a great big scanner. I'll try to work on that.

From old to new....In the spring I shared life:beautiful with you. It is a relatively new magazine. It is full of decorating ideas, recipes, heartwarming stories...

After picking up the spring issue in a bookstore I actually subscribed. Above is the summer issue that came out in May.
Isn't this a pretty display?
This is part of a story on hosting a box lunch social. Wouldn't that be fun?

In the back of the current issue is says to expect the fall issue on August 12. I was disappointed when that day came and went without a new magazine. I called the publisher and the kind woman explained to me just how expensive it is to do a magazine of this quality. Unfortunately, they were unable to put together a fall issue, but she assured me that they were working on a fabulous holiday issue due out in early November.

I really believe we need to support this publication. It is beautiful, very top quality and is faith-based. I love seeing the beautiful photographs with scripture to go along with them. It is nice to read columns from Dr. Dobson, Gary Smalley and Ellie Kay (plus many more). If you can scrape up an extra $20 I would encourage you to go to www.lifebeautifulmagazine.com and subscribe. I have noticed lately that their website isn't fully functioning, but you can still subscribe. Let's send a message to them that we want their magazine to flourish.

Whew! I always plan on doing a short post and it turns into so much more. I hope you've stuck with me through this whole thing.

{"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8}

Is it Saturday already?

Wow! Surprisingly, this week went by quickly. All the kids had a good week at school. Seeing my Sweet Girl's smile at the end of each day was such a relief to me. The worst part of the week was probably the traffic at my oldest son's school. Pickup was a nightmare! I can't believe that kids don't get run over and there isn't an abundance of fender benders each day.

I've really been enjoying Shades of Inspiration. You can see all of my flickr photos here. This week's "color" was rust. Fun!

My favorite icecream bucket - I actually use this one as a trashcan in my bedroom.
I found this rusty flower frog last weekend at an estate sale. I hadn't seen an oval one before.
An old child's rake.
I call this photo "A Road Once Traveled."

On Wednesday my oldest turned 11. Am I old enough to have an 11 year old? Surely not. He was born in North Dakota. His doctor was also a race car driver. While he was waiting for my labor to progress he went to work on his car, "The Stork." Good thing he had time to wash the grease off his hands before he delivered my beautiful 8 lb. 14 oz. baby boy!

He got a BB gun for his birthday. Last night he was looking in my cookbooks for squirrel recipes. He thinks he is going to kill one. Of course we have told him he can't shoot at any living creatures. That reminds me of a bumper sticker I saw a couple years ago. It said, "Squirrel. It's what's for supper." Remember, we live in Arkansas.

Hubby is working all day. All the college students move in today. Note to self: Don't go to WalMart today. Have you ever been to WalMart in a college town on "move in" day? Trust me. Don't do it.

One last thing. I know this post is getting long. I am still doing the Usborne e-show to raise money for Rett Syndrome. These books make wonderful gifts. You might want to think ahead and do some Christmas shopping. Thank you to those who have already helped me Read for Rett!

{"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:19-20}

Special Deliveries

I've had some wonderful deliveries come my way lately. Last week when my inlaws visited they brought me a box from my husband's aunt. She is unable to do much crafting anymore. She was so sweet to think of me.

This box is full of ribbon, trims, beads and other embellishments. I will definitely be able to use these in my projects. Thank you, Aunt Carol!

I splurged this month and bought a kit from Jenni Bowlin. It is really not like me to spend money on such things. Jenni is having a design contest this month. Maybe I should get super-creative and try to win back the money I spent. Yeah, right! I can't even imagine the talented artists I would be up against.

A few weeks ago I won a blog giveaway over at Simply Mein. Tamy emailed me to let me know I was the big winner. I was so excited and immediately replied with my mailing address. Well, I don't know what happened, but my emails would not go through to her. I was so afraid Tamy was just going to give up on me. Thankfully, she didn't. She sent me her phone number and I gave her a call with my address.

I was so excited to receive her package. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed! She was so generous and it just made my day when I opened the box yesterday.

A clip board, tons of pink lace, paper lace, wonderful red, white and blue crepe paper garland, Christmas goodies, game pieces.....
....the most perfect rubber stamp! And the adroble little pin cushion? Tamy, how did you know I had been wanting one of these?
There's more! Post-it notes, clothespins, cards, yo-yo gift tags, pipe cleaners....
....and bugs! Not sure about these, but my 7 year old sure had fun with them. He gets his creativity from his mom, don't you think?!

So, I just want to say....

( Yes, the letters came from her, also.)

{"Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted." Proverbs 17:8}

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Happy 6th Birthday, Sweet Girl! Mommy loves you very much!

Like usual, I could not get her to look at the camera. Actually, I did get a really good close-up of her looking at me. But on this blog I wanted you to see her adorable new birthday dress. I purchased it at a local antique store. It is made from several different vintage pieces - tablecloth, pillowcase, doilies, etc. I love it! Oh, and how do you like her vintage barrettes? Aren't they perfect?

{"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Philippians 4:4}

Did you think I had forgotten about you? I know it has been several days. See the new quote on my front porch? Well, I wish I could really just sit, but there is a lot going on. We had company all week. Tomorrow is Sweet Girl's 6th birthday. Monday the kids start school. I'm not sure I am ready.

Actually, I sat on the porch for just a bit this morning. It was beautiful! I know we still have lots of summer weather left, but early this morning it felt like fall. It was a nice reminder of what's to come.

I'm tired and need to get to bed. Hopefully I can get back to my "regular" posting soon.

Rain!

Well, we went from drought to flood. After going four weeks without rain, it has now been raining since yesterday morning. All day yesterday we had a beautiful light rain. Early this morning it turned into heavy rain. It is still raining steady.

Here are the boys going out to check the standing water in the yard. It isn't really flooding right here, but there is some flooding around us. Hubby had to take a couple detours to get to campus this morning. Who knows what it will be like if this rain keeps up.

I'm certainly not going to complain about the temperature. 75° feels absolutely wonderful! We've been enjoying sitting on the porch, listening to the rain and feeling the cool breeze. So refreshing after the HOT weather we've been having.

It's going to be a busy week. We have company coming and we are trying to do last minute preparations for school. The kids start back next Monday.

After my last post I got to thinking that some of you must think I shop (thrift) all the time. Truly, I don't. I just try to sneak in a little bit here and there. I've been trying to be very careful with how many trips we make to town during the week. We live about 5 miles out - not a terribly long ways, but long enough with these gas prices. Also, with the kids home during the summer it is not as easy (or fun) to go to the thrift stores. They tolerate it when I drag them in, but I hear complaints from them. I'll do more thrifting when they are back in school.

Every once in a while I start feeling guilty about my thrifting addiction. Then I look around my home and see just how much I use and decorate with my thrifty finds. I have very few things that I bought new. I also resell things I pick up on my junking adventures. Thrifting is a fun and relaxing hobby for me!

Rain! That is what I intended to blog about today. Sorry to get off on a tangent. Now I must get back to cleaning my house....or maybe I will go sit on the porch and listen to that rain come down.

{"Open up, heavens, and rain. Clouds, pour out buckets of my goodness! Loosen up, earth, and bloom salvation; sprout right living. I, God, generate all this." Isaiah 45:8}

Shades of Inspiration

I've been wanting to participate in Sadie Olive's "Shades of Inspiration." In a way I think I have put it off because the other participants are way out of my league photographically. But this week the "shades" are light blue and brown - my favorite color combo these days. I just decided to go for it and add a couple pictures of my own.

This is a vintage barkcloth pillow. I just love the colors!

I just think this bowl is beautiful. The picture doesn't do it justice. I paid 30 cents for it this week at the local thrift store. If you visit "Shades of Inspiration" you will see many photos with this beautiful color combination.

Today after hippotherapy I ran into Goodwill while hubby waited in the van with the kiddos. Man was I excited when I saw this box. Look at these great tags! My brain is spinning with projects. The box says 1000. Not sure if they are all in there, but the box is pretty full.

Does anyone remember Gibson's stores? Do they still exist anywhere? Even if they do, I bet they don't use tags like this anymore!

Goodwill also helped add to my kitchen/dining decor today. Like I needed to add anything! I love this little chicken basket....

....and this great egg basket. I wish I would have taken a better picture. It collapses and turns inside-out. Very cool!

It has finally cooled down a bit the last few days. Amazing how good 95° feels after 108°. The good thing about the heat? The boys have been reading machines! We went to the library on Tuesday and they are ready to go back again. I love to read and I love that my boys love it!

I was going to write more, but I seem to be rambling tonight. I won't bore you. I hope you have a great weekend!

{"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world." Matthew 5:14}

Hope Landing

I've mentioned before that Sweet Girl does hippotherapy. I just wanted to share a little bit about the new therapy center we are going to. What a fabulous place! The name is "Hope Landing" and their mission "is to bring hope and purpose to the lives of children with disabilities by helping them achieve their God-given potential." It was started in 2005 by five women. "Having in common an understanding of the needs of children with disabilities and their families, a love for God, a love for children, and a love for their community, they collaborated to form an organization that would be distinctive and unprecedented in its approach to children’s development."

They not only provide hippotherapy, but also water therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. As if that isn't enough, they offer respite programs, counseling, Bible studies, camps....They also pray for each child and their families. Wow!

Here are a couple pictures of Sweet Girl riding. They are a little dark. The covered arena is great except for photo taking.
I "borrowed" the photo below from Hope Landing's website. It is such a beautiful place and we thank God that we can be a part of it. Just a little reminder - I still have the Usborne Books eshow going on. Just click on the link to start shopping. Email me if you have any questions. Why am I doing this? Please see this post. Thank you to those who have placed orders. I really appreciate it.

Finally it was cooler today - only 99 degrees! We still have not had rain. It has been almost four weeks! Today it got windy and their was a huge dark cloud right above our house. The wind just blew it right past before a drop of rain could fall. Ugh! Our grass is brown and crunchy and I am just trying to water enough to keep the trees, shrubs and flowers alive. We are praying for rain here in Southern Arkansas.

I hope everyone is having a good week - staying cool and getting just the right amount of rain.

{"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31}