Soda, Anyone?

Several weeks ago I found these soda bottles at the thrift store. The great graphics just drew me in. Someone obviously had quite a collection that they donated. I bought seven of them, but there were many more.
I hope you are thirsty. Would you like King Kist?
Or do you prefer Frostie Root Beer?

Pop Kola perhaps?

My favorite is Electric Beverages because you know it is "the current drink!"

{If you see your enemy hungry, go buy him lunch; if he's thirsty, bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you. Proverbs 25:21}

Checkers

Tonight I thought I would show you the antique store where I have my little booth.

If you are ever in Magnolia, AR make sure you stop by this fun little corner of our town.

Do you need a carriage? I know where you can find one!

My booth is constantly changing. I think it helps to change and move things around.

I have some fun vintage office items in there right now.

There is a little bit of everything....from a bed pan to pretty china.

I took these pictures last week. Now the two top suitcases are gone. The basket on the floor is gone. Silver tray....gone. Sales were pretty good this past weekend.

I wish I had this big of space. This belongs to the shop owner, Kathy.

Dave always has fun stuff.

So does his mom, Jan. I love this glass hand and the numbered beaker/vase. Both of these items tempt me each time I go into the store.

I am not making big bucks with my booth, but I am making money each month. I love it! I love shopping for bargains. I love repurposing some of those bargains. I love displaying the items. I love the friendships that I have made. I just love it!

{Clear my name, God; I've kept an honest shop. I've thrown in my lot with you, God, and I'm not budging. Psalm 26:1}

From Blah to Blue....and Green!

We've had some beautiful spring days this week. I should have been spraying all the dirt and pollen off of my porch, but instead of was washing some "projects."

This beauty came from the Last Chance Thrift Store. I figured for a quarter I could give it another chance.

This large (19 inches), metal lazy susan was a bit more pricey - 50 cents at an estate sale. It was originally $1, but since it was still there on 1/2 price day, I decided to bring it home with me.

I washed, scrubbed, primed and painted.

Aren't these fun colors? Clearance spray paint from WalMart - gotta love it! I can't decide if I am going to keep the lazy susan or sell it. It would be nice on my dining room table. I need your help with the light fixture. I am thinking it should be a candle holder. Should I put something on the top (like a pretty china plate) so it could sit on a table or buffet? Should I attach chain or wire somehow so it could become a hanging "chandelier"? Should I live it just as it is? Opinions please.

Here are a couple other things I washed, but did not paint. Some things really are okay without spray paint!

One morning on the way to take the kids to school I saw this fan sitting on the curb with someone's trash. So, I stopped and picked it up. It felt a little strange. I've never "curb shopped" before. Have you?

These roller skates came from an estate sale. I cleaned them up and sprayed some sealer on them because they were a bit rusty. Then I reattached the leather straps and put them in the booth. I have a little sports & recreation section in my booth right now, so I thought these fit right in.

Okay, time to get off the computer. Trying to get some things caught up around the house today. No thrift stores, no garage sales..... Just staying home.

{Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this! Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods With rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit. Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, All through the wild meadows, rose petals. Set the hills to dancing, Dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys. Let them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing! Psalm 65:9}

Happy Easter, Sad Pictures!

We had a wonderful Easter! We traveled to our old town to spend the weekend with dear friends. They became like family to us when we lived there and we were often a part of their family gatherings. What a blessing to have friends like this when family is so far away!

Our time together was great, but my pictures are far from it. It poured rain all day. I snapped a few photos of the kids inside before heading to church. I'm embarrassed to show them because they are bad. But several people have asked when I was going to post pictures of Sweet Girl's dress, so I guess I will.

Actually, I will share a picture of just the dress first. Awhile back I told you about winning a pattern from The Handmade Dress. I was excited about using it for the Easter dress. Unfortunately, we don't have a fabric store in this town and I wasn't going any where else to shop. I dug through my fabric stash to see if I had anything that would work. A thrifted bedsheet! That is what I made Sweet Girl's dress with. And a thrifted dresser scarf! Do you want to see?

Here it is! I love how it turned out! I realized after it was done that I had read the pattern wrong and placed the waistband too high. Oh, well. I don't think I will go back and redo it. I will just read the pattern instructions better next time I use it. I do plan on using this pattern again. Quick and simple (if you read the instructions)!

Here are the three kiddos. I told you the pictures were bad. We didn't even get a picture of the whole family.

Here is Sweet Girl modeling her dress. She doesn't stand well on her own, so Hubby is holding her up.
This picture has nothing to do with the post. I just wanted to share a half-way decent photo. I took this on my walk one morning. I didn't get too close, but I bet this mama was sitting on some eggs. I'll have to watch for the sweet babies.

I hope you have a terrific week filled with blessings!

{Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Psalm 84:3}

Fingerprint Friday

I am participating in Fingerprint Friday today. Visit PamperingBeki to join in!

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
Youre a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

I saw God's fingerprints at the Rock and Worship Roadshow last Sunday evening.
If you have a chance to attend this wonderful concert, don't hesitate. It is fabulous! And cheap! Gotta love that!

Back to the fingerprints.....I was worried about how Sweet Girl would do at a long concert. She loves music, so I should have known she would be fine. She absolutely loved every minute (well, 3+ hours) of it! For some background information, Sweet Girl has Rett Syndrome and is nonverbal (among other things). She laughs and makes some noise, but really no real words.

So, Jeremy Camp was singing, "There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, no more fears...." and suddenly Sweet Girl lets out this very loud "yaaaaay!" I truly believe she was listening to those words and understanding them. She knows that "There will be a day with no more Rett Syndrome." Yaaaay!

I saw the fingerprints of God through my daughter this week. Where did you see them?

Resurrection Rolls

Hello! Crazy week again. I've been busy trying to get ready for Easter. Sweet Girl's dress is done except for hemming. I am pleased with how it turned out and will share pictures after Easter. Now I've just got to figure out what I am going to wear. Growing up I always had a new dress for Easter and I still like to do that. It may be a thrifted dress, but it will still be new to me.

I meant to get this recipe posted earlier in the week. You know how that goes. These are an Easter morning tradition at our house. They are yummy and serve as a good teaching tool for the kiddos.

Resurrection Rolls

Place 20 frozen rolls in a greased pan and let them thaw.

When thawed, press rolls flat and place a marshmallow in the center. (Please ignore the nasty countertops. These were taken in the rental house last year.)

Pull roll up over the marshmallow and pinch edges closed.
Cover and let rise for at least 30-45 minutes. Some of the rolls may come undone. Just pinch them back together.
Brush with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 15 minutes at 350° .
These are best when served warm.
Do you know why they are called Resurrection Rolls? Because they look like the empty tomb!

Resurrection Rolls

20 Frozen Rhodes Rolls

20 large marshmallows

1/4 cup melted butter

6 T. sugar

1 t. cinnamon

Place rolls in a greased 9x13 pan; let thaw. Press rolls flat. Place marshmallow in center; pinch edges of roll together to enclose marshmallow. Let rise 30-45 minutes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until light brown. Serve warm. (Warning: the marshmallow turns to liquid and is gooey. Don't dress your kids in their Easter clothes before eating!)

{When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"

Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said." Mark 16:1-7}

{Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; John 11:25}

Bloomin' Right Here!

This week has gone by fast. I need more days to get things done. A lot of running, and not much getting accomplished. I guess some weeks are just like that.

Tonight I thought I would share a few (okay, a lot) of pictures. I'm amazed how the world just comes to life this time of year. I've been snapping pictures of flowers for a few weeks. Just can't get enough. So, I hope you enjoy what's Bloomin' Right Here!

Wisteria along the country road.

Wildflowers in the fields.

"Planters" on my porch.

Dogwoods everywhere!

Azaleas behind my bird bath.
Camellias on campus. Almost gone....

....but still beautiful even on the ground.

Beautiful redbuds!

Honeysuckle on the fence.

Ummm....I don't know what these are.....

but this bush beside the house is full of them.

I hope you have enjoyed my little botanical tour. What's blooming in your part of the world?

{Flowers appear on the earth;

the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

Song of Solomon 11:12}