Lessons From the Garden

I've got to be honest with you. Last week was a rough one for me. Lots going on around me, in my head, etc. Some of the most peaceful moments I had were when I was tending to my friends' garden while they were on vacation.

It was HOT! But while I picked this wonderful produce, with sweat dripping off of me, I was thankful for God's blessings. I have never had a garden of my own. This is my friends' first garden and they have done an amazing job. God has done an even more amazing job!

I would love to say that I have some profound thoughts on all of this. I really don't. However, a few days ago I read this beautiful post and wanted to share it with you. So, please go have a seat at Jo's Kitchen Table and enjoy her words of wisdom.

{The LORD will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or like a stream that never runs dry. Is. 58:11}

Sorry to leave you hanging. It may still be a few days until I can get a "real" post done. Just a lot going on these days. Please keep checking back. Maybe I will have something exciting to blog about again someday.

{"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." Is. 40:31}

To Buy or Not To Buy

I have a question for you. If you saw this quilt neatly folded with a $3 price tag on it, would you buy it?

Maybe. Maybe not.



Okay, what if you unfolded it and saw this on the other side?

Yeah. That's what I thought.
As far as intricate design goes, this quilt doesn't have it. What it does have is absolutely gorgeous fabric. Can someone tell me what era this is from? I really don't know.

When I bought it I told myself I could make some money on it. It is worth a lot more than $3. But by the time I got home I had convinced myself to keep it. It is beautiful and worn to a wonderful softness.

I haven't been doing a lot of "junking" lately. With three kids home for the summer it is hard to get to the thrift stores. I'm also trying not to spend extra money on anything. I did have a really good month in my antique booth, so I felt okay about hitting a couple of garage sales last weekend.

I found this feed sack....
....and this one. They might end up in my booth, but I really like them, too.

Here are a few more goodies. Several months ago I found some old jigsaw puzzles. Last week I found a couple more. They are now in my booth along with those red bowls. The jar is for my collection and the child-size wooden shoe form became party of my living room decor. If you enlarge the pictures you can see a little box in the bowl. It is "1 Triangular Bandage" still folded up in the box. I did a little search and found that it WW2 medics carried these in their bags.

Time to get off the computer. I am trying to get this house all in order. If I didn't have to do laundry, cook, make important phone calls, etc. maybe I could get the really deep cleaning and organizing done. Unfortunately, the day-to-day things still have to be done. I better get busy.

{She knows when to buy or sell, and she stays busy until late at night. Proverbs 31:18}

Studio Envy

I often read blogs and magazines where wonderfully creative gals show glimpses of their "studios". I see the incredible rooms; beautifully organized spaces where all kinds of creative goodness happens. I just sigh and think, "Someday....."

In our previous home I had most of my "craft" supplies in my corner cabinet in my dining room. The dining room table was my work surface. Not the greatest when I was in the middle of a project at dinner time. When we moved here I decided to claim the pantry as my "craft closet."

The wire shelves were already in place. I added a plastic shelving unit to one end. My red table that I shared last week sits just outside the door. It is not exactly the ideal creative space, but it is certainly a step up from the dining room.

I haven't done a great job of keeping this space organized. A couple weeks ago I worked really hard to get everything (well, most everything) in its place. Tonight I just thought I would show you some glimpses of what it looks like.

A basket and a cigar box holds my lace and trims.

Another basket holds BINGO cards, flashcards, etc.

Jars contain ribbon, embroidery floss, scrabble tiles, game pieces.....

This old fridge drawer came from a tag sale and I think I paid 50 cents for it. I just loved the color. Right now it is holding bits and pieces that I wasn't sure what to do with yet.

My rick rack and seam binding is organized in this enamel fridge drawer. I like using "junk" containers to stash all my goodies.

Above the plastic shelving unit I put this shower curtain bar between the two walls. I then tied pieces of ribbon with "s" hooks to hold little buckets. I know none of this matches, but it works.

Empty cans with fun graphics hold pencils, markers, scissors, etc. The card file little tools on one side and alphabets/numbers on the other side.

This wire freezer basket works great for my vintage sewing patterns.

I don't think my pantry will be showing up in any magazines and I'm pretty sure this is the only blog you will see it on. That is okay. It works for me. Someday I may have an entire room all to myself, but for now I will be content with this little space.

Before I forget, a few people asked me where I got the colored clothespins in my last post. Well, a couple months ago I bought a vintage clothespin bag for $2 at a tag sale. The clothespins were in the bag. There are two different styles - one a bit sturdier than the other. I wasn't going to use them and then decided they would make my laundry cheerier (is that a word?).

Okay, this post has taken me way too long to finish. I have got to get off this computer.

{Seraiah was the father of Joab, who settled a place called "Valley of Crafts" because the people who lived there were experts in making things. I Chronicles 4:14}

Summer Daze

It is hot. And humid. So humid that you can see it.
I really don't have anything to post tonight. But I wanted to post anyway.
I've only used my dryer a couple times in the last month. I love my clothesline.
I think my favorite skirt loves it, too.

How is that for the worst post ever?

{Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. Psalm 51:1}

The Red Table

I haven't been very creative lately. Couldn't even think of a creative title for this post. Things are a bit stressful around here and probably will be for awhile. Sorry I can't go in to details. Just keep our family in your prayers. Thanks.

Now on to the red table. About a month ago I spotted a fabulous red table at a garage sale. It was priced right, but I didn't buy it. As I was driving home I kept thinking about it. When I got home and told my hubby about it he told me to measure to see if it would fit the spot I had in mind for it. Then I went back and bought it.

It is my new craft table. (Just thought I would keep things real and take the picture "as is".) Isn't it a great table? I like to stand up when I am crafting and this table is just about waist-high. Perfect! It also has casters so it is easy to move around.
It is handmade and I think it was probably in a man's workshop. The top has some spots, stuck-on glue, etc. but I decided to just leave it for now. After all, I am certainly not going to go easy on it. If it had a perfect finish I would always be worried about ruining it.

My favorite part is the shelf. So nice for keeping things handy that I use often.

This red table just makes me happy! Do you have a favorite piece of furniture that makes you happy?

I'm tired tonight and all the sudden my mind is blank. I guess that is all I have to say.

{"Once again I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts." Pslam 77:11}

Family

We drove to Missouri this past weekend for a family reunion. My mom's family is wonderful! There were 43 adults and 42 children from at least eight different states. We laughed. We sang. We worshipped. We cried. One of my favorite parts of the reunion is when we sing around the campfire. There are some gifted musicians in this family (although I am not one of them). On Saturday evening we were singing praises and a lady camping nearby stopped to listen. She told my aunt that we sounded like a choir. I truly hope that our singing was a blessing to other campers in the area.

My SIL, one of my cousins and I snuck away for a bit and went to an antique mall. It was fun to look, but we didn't buy much. My big purchase was this pretty postcard. I like the sweet little cottage and I love the verse. It is so fitting for my family.

I was inspired by the work over at Things With Wings and decided to make this collage for a give away at the reunion. The quote says, "May the roots of our family tree grow deep and strong." The hymn is "Beautiful River" (Shall we gather at the river) and was one of my Grandma's favorites. We sang it at the cemetery as we said our final goodbyes last year. My aunt who organized the reunion got to take this home with her.

This doesn't really have anything to do with the reunion. It is a birthday card I made for my niece's 15th birthday. I guess I did give it to her at the reunion.

We arrived home about 11:00 last night. The first thing I noticed was how tall the grass was. It looked like we had been gone for over a week. It is 94° and my poor hubby is out mowing it right now.

I hope you all had a great weekend and are off to a good start with the week. I've got to get off the computer and get my Sweet Girl in bed.

{The Lord will give grace and glory: No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11}

To Pluto and Back

It was kind of a rough afternoon. And then I got this....
Enough said.

{Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalm 32:1}

A Peaceful Vignette

Good afternoon! I have been struggling with finding something to blog about. It is not that I have just been sitting around twiddling my thumbs. But certainly you don't want to read about sunburns, kids who won't sleep in, my never-ending "to do" list......

So, I believe I will share with you a peaceful little vignette. Welcome to my master bathroom.

It is so enjoyable to find things here and there that just seem to go together. It is even more enjoyable when very little money is spent. The little $5 table spent some time in the living room, but recently moved to the bathroom. I bought the mirror at an estate sale a couple months ago for $2. The empty frame was $1 or maybe $2.

Do you know what this chippy white metal piece used to be? It was a light fixture from the porch of our very first home that we owned; a nice reminder of our beautiful old house in Kansas.
For a $1.50 I definitely couldn't pass up this little silver loving cup. Now, go here to see the pretty egg soap. Make sure to look at the prices. These eggs are beautiful, but I could never pay that much for soap. Instead, I found a bag of these (six eggs) at an estate sale for $1. Honestly, I kind of felt guilty for buying pretty soap. That's usually not my thing.

But, look! Even the tag and ribbon are pretty! And now that I know how much they really cost I don't feel so bad. In fact, I love them even more.

I could have used the other three egg soaps here, but I wanted something different. The little polka dot saucer is by Homer Laughlin. Again, I think I paid $1. I would love to find more dishes in this pattern. The thread spools are from my stash and the "cloche" was 39 cents at the thrift store.

Pretty and peaceful. And cheap! Do you have a favorite vignette in your home right now? I would love for you to leave me a comment about it (and a link to it). I love the inspiration I get from fellow bloggers. Thanks!

{First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God. This kind of prayer is good, and it pleases God our Savior. I Timothy 2:1-3}

A Sign of God

The other day, I came across a new blog. Things With Wings.... is a fun little spot! The first piece of art I saw on their blog had this quote: "A sign of God is that you are led where you never planned to go." I won't go into details of why that speaks to me. I'll just tell you that it really touched me.

To look at the "lighter side" of this quote I thought I would share a few pictures with you. Last Saturday we all hopped in the van to attend a crawfish boil at some friends' house. Right before we left I ask hubby if he knew where we were going. He was "pretty sure" he knew how to get there. Needless to say, what should have been a 5 minute trip took over 30 minutes.

I was getting quite irritated as we drove down all these country roads. Why can't he just call somebody and get directions? Then I saw this.....

...and I made him stop so I could take a picture. Is that not one of the sweetest cottages you have ever seen? Down a little old country road we didn't plan on traveling....
Then I made him stop for this....

.....and this!

As it turns out, we had driven right by the road we needed. Had we turned right away we would have missed the beauty. We didn't plan on going down those country roads, but we saw signs of God along the way.

{For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. Proverbs 5:21}

Pot Luck Recipes

Good morning! I just came in from having a cup of coffee on the porch. The birds were singing and the rain was softly falling. What a beautiful way to start the weekend!

I almost forgot that I told you I would share a couple of my favorite recipes. Please note that the photo above has nothing to do with this post. I just liked it!

Caramel Apple Salad (or Snicker Salad)
2 small boxes of instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 8oz. container Cool Whip
3 Granny Smith apples
3 Snickers bars

Mix the pudding and milk until thickened. Fold in Cool Whip. Cut the apples (unpeeled) and Snickers into small pieces and stir into pudding mixture. Refrigerate until ready to serve. This is best eaten the day you make it. Yummy! It is really like a dessert, but if you call it a salad it sounds a lot healthier!

Corn Dip

1 can yellow corn (drained)

1 can shoe peg (white) corn (drained)

1 can Rotel

1 can chopped green chilies

1 8oz. bar of cream cheese

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

The recipe says to mix all ingredients and bake at 350° until bubbly. I put everything in my crockpot. Also, I usually add some shredded cheddar cheese. Serve with Fritos or tortilla chips.

I have no idea why blogger formatted those two recipes different. I also have no idea how to fix it. Things like that drive me crazy. Hubby is still sleeping or I would have him fix it. Oh, well.

I think I will head to town to see if there are any garage sales. May not be too many since it is a holiday weekend. This afternoon we are going to some friends for a crawfish boil. The boys are excited. I'm looking forward to spending time with friends. The crawfish - not so much.

{A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels. Proverbs 17:1}

Bought & Sold

Last weekend I hit just a few sales. One of the things I bought was this fun little table.

I knew I needed to re-do the top, but wasn't sure what to do with it. It really wasn't a good week to tackle a project - sick girl, rain, etc.- but I wanted to get it in my booth before this weekend. Whenever I had a few free moments and the humidity wasn't sky high, I would run out and work on it. I sanded and primed it first. Then I painted it, but the color ended up being too "country blue" and outdated. Didn't like that. Sanded some more. Painted it white. The coverage wasn't real great. Sanded some more. Applied an antiquing glaze. Sanded some more.

I still wasn't sure if I liked the results, but I was out of time. Within an hour of applying the glaze and sanding for the last time I had this little table in my booth. I figured if it didn't sell after awhile I would bring it home and do something else with the top.
At the thrift store this past week I found this great leather suitcase. I usually don't spend $5 on any one item at the thrift store, but I really liked this one. Loved the details on the latches. I love anything with lettering on it. And although I would have loved to keep it, I just can't keep everything.
The suitcase ended up on the table in my booth. I was very pleased with how this display turned out on Wednesday. I was spiffing up the booth for the Magnolia Blossom Festival this weekend. Since the festival happens right outside the doors of the antique store business is pretty good.

Well, I got a call from the antique store Friday morning. The table had just sold and they wondered if I wanted to put something in its place. I was excited that it had sold so quickly, but worried about getting the booth to look good again. I had an end table that I took in to replace it. Didn't look as good, but it worked. About noon on Saturday I stopped by the booth and noticed that the suitcase was gone. Those two items sure didn't stay around for long!

Before I go, here is a fun little project from Country Living (click on the arrow to go to pg2 on the link). I just realized when I went back to the link that I didn't make my flowers quite the same. I forgot to round off the ends. Oh, well. You should try this. It make you feel like you are back in elementary school. You remember making tissue paper flowers, right? This is the same thing only using tissue from sewing patterns. For my vase I rummaged through my stash and found this antique cuff from a blouse or dress. It fit perfectly over a pint size jar. Pretty!

We are honoring the graduates at church tonight with a potluck after services. I am making two of my favorite potluck items - Caramel Apple Salad and Corn Dip. Shhh....don't tell anyone I'm not bringing a "main dish." Just couldn't think of anything that sounded good and easy this time. I will try to share the two recipes with you next time. What is your favorite potluck food? Leave me a comment and let me know!

{Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2}

A New Arrival

Do you remember back in February when I told you about this wonderful blessing? Well, last week a sweet little bundle arrived on our doorstep.

Isn't she adorable?

Here are the two cuties together.

I love you, baby!

She is personalized just for Sweet Girl.

Thank you, Baby Be Blessed! Thank you, also, to everyone who offered up prayers for Sweet Girl or who gave a financial donation. We truly were blessed by this. I hope you will continue to "Give A Blessing" to other children each month. There is a link in my sidebar that will take you right to them anytime.

{"I will never give up HOPE or stop

praising you." Psalm 71:14}

Happy Mother's Day!

{Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her..... Proverbs 31:28}

Gifted

Okay, I have a question for you. When do you turn on your AC in your home? Do you wait until it reaches a certain temperature outside? Do you wait for a specific day on the calendar? I'm just curious. I'm cheap and like to hold off as long as possible before turning on the AC. Today it is 90° outside and 82° inside. Is it time? Of course, when I do turn it on it will probably be set at 80° (told you I was cheap) so maybe I can hold off a little longer. Hmmm....

I've been sick all week. Sore throat, fever, headache, swollen glands.... I finally went to the doctor today. It has been over five years since I have been sick enough to go to the doctor. She put me on antibiotics but said they may not do any good because it could be a viral infection. Guess we will see. I do think I am feeling a bit better this afternoon. Now I am just praying that the rest of the family stays healthy.

I've received some sweet gifts lately and I wanted to share them with you. My friend Jan emailed me a few weeks ago and said she had a little something for me. First I have to tell you how I met Jan. She stopped me in the thrift store one day and said, "Are you Vanessa? I read your blog." She was actually the second person to do that. Before that I had no idea that anyone in this town read my ramblings. Now I have to be careful what I say about this town. Ha!

Back to the gift. Jan had found this folding ruler and knew I would love it. I do! recruited my eight year old to shape it into a star. A couple weeks later I found another folding ruler at a garage sale. Now I have a star on each french door. Thanks, Jan!

I have another friend Jan who I met at a garage sale. Later I figured out that we went to church together. We both have booths in the same antique store. Actually, she has more than one booth in Checkers and another booth in the other mall. I think she should be dubbed the Junk Queen or Garage Sale Queen or something. I've figured out that if I need to find something I should just ask Jan. So far she has come through for me every time.

I've been wanting a clothesline for quite some time. I mentioned to Jan that I was on the lookout for some clothesline poles. Guess what? She just happened to have some at her place. One of them needed some repairs and her husband took it someplace to be welded. Isn't that sweet? I'm excited to get them put up and start using them. Thanks, Jan and Vernie!

The second Jan has a sister, Pat, who also has a booth at Checkers. One day I spotted this flashcard in my booth. There were also cards in Jan's booth, Dave's booth (Jan's son) and Pat's booth. Turns out that Pat had bought a box of flashcards at a sale and was having fun leaving us all messages with them. I told her if she ever wanted to get rid of the flashcards I would love to purchase them from her. She said she had had her $2 worth of fun and would pass them along. She brought them to me a couple days later. The box was huge! 500 flashcards! Pat said I didn't need to pay her for them, but I gave her $2. I still feel like I stole from her. The flashcards are wonderful. Thanks, Pat!

My cousin Linda (second cousin? first cousin once removed?) send me a box of goodies recently. Vintage fabric. Buttons. Zinc lids. Jewelry. All kinds of fun things. It was like Christmas opening the box and digging through it. Thanks, Linda!

Yesterday I trudged out to the mailbox feeling horrible. What a surprise to find a little package from my dear friend Molly. There was a sweet note telling me that I am always in her prayers. I needed that. She also sent a new "C" to add to my collection. Thank you, Molly!

{Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15}

P.S. Hubby just arrived home from work and turned on the AC.