Rest

Jesus said:

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,

for I am meek and humble of heart;

and you will find rest for yourselves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

~Matthew 11:28-30

Another Giveaway

My Little Raggedly Blessing is offering a Christmas in July giveaway - enter by July 31, 2009. Click on the picture to visit her blog.

Giveaway

Patti at Tapestry of Dreams is having a huge giveaway. You have until July 14, 2009 to enter!

Panic Attacks

If you do not suffer from panic attacks, consider yourself fortunate. I have been struggling with panic attacks since 1991 and they are no fun. Normally, I can defuse the situation and ward off a panic attack but sometimes they sneak upon me - like today. I was minding my own business when one hit me. My solution for a panic attack is to take my medicine and find a cat! Sam is the best medicine for any illness, but particularly a panic attack. He will lay with me and purr and pet me until I feel better. It's a good thing!

I am content

Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."

I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses,

in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me.

Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,

persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ;

for when I am weak, then I am strong.

~2 Corinthians 12: 8-10

Black-eyed Susan

I love Black-eyed Susan's. I bought 2 pots and planted them by my front door steps, which gets full sun all day long. Today, I was greeted with the smallest of blooms. I can't wait to see

both plants in full bloom. Tomorrow, I am having my friend's son, Rob, to come and cut down lots of bushes with his chain saw. I can't wait to get this yard back under control!

Flower power from my yard!

Where are my scissors?!!

I am always looking for my scissors. I have lots of scissors because I keep buying them when they get gone. These are my craft scissors that can cut paper. (I keep my fabric scissors under lock and key!)

Between the boys and my husband, I can never find my scissors. I can not tell you how aggravating this is to me. This morning when I was in Big Lots, looking through cleaning supplies, I saw this sponge caddy. Then, I had an idea. Why not put the sponge caddy on my filing cabinet located next to my desk and have a place to put my scissors. I love this idea. They are handy and everyone knows EXACTLY where to put them back! For $2 I have solved a very annoying problem and created my own scissor caddy!

Summertime

This is perhaps one of my favorite songs of all times. I found this artist on You Tube. Her name is Cris, a graphic designer in Canada. She has a beautiful voice. Check out 'cityofsun88' on You Tube to hear more of her songs. Enjoy!

Seeing Red

Since I had left over red spray paint, I have been seeing red. I had this basket that I thought was so ugly, yet I liked the way it was made. I decided it would be the next project.

For right now, it's hanging on the bathroom walls with washcloths. I am not sure that it will remain there. I can see it filled with flowers, or evergreen during Christmas holidays, or fall leaves during autumn. I do like the way it turned out.

My New Old Chair

This is an old chair that has been on my front porch (although it's not a real porch since it's the size of a postage stamp). Anyway, I have fretted for years what color to paint it. I finally decided on Barn Red. I just love it! I spray painted it because I thought it would be quicker. Lord knows that I need all the minutes in a day that I can get!

I think it's just perfect now! And, just in time for Flag Day!

Flowers & New Door Mats

Nikolai and I worked on this little flower garden this morning. I had an old wheelbarrow that belonged to my daddy. I couldn't bear to part with it so I put an old cloth mat in the bottom (since it was rusted out), filled it with soil, and we planted flowers. I am very pleased with our efforts.
As you can see, I need to mulch around my tree base. That's on the schedule for next week.

We also bought all new floor mats for our house. It had been a long time since we had bought any and the ones we had were pitiful. I still had a mat with snowflakes at the front door. I know, that's sad! The boys took these photos. I thought they did a good job. Deniska took the first two photos and Nikolai took the last one.

We worked in the yard all morning. My butterfly garden has been invaded by poison ivy. I don't know how to go about getting rid of it without hurting the other plants. I bought some Round-up for the other places. Poison Ivy is bad this year in my yard. I don't want to boys in it at all. Maybe I will hire someone to come clean it out for me. Or, maybe I will just bite the bullet and do it myself. I've never been allergic to poison ivy and I don't want to start now!

Gifts and Thrift shop finds

My mother-in-law, Joyce, gave me some Bath & Body products, Avon lotion, and an angel pin. Wasn't that nice?

She also gave me this Rosetti purse. I really like it. It's big, it's red, my new favorite purse color, and it's large enough for school. It even has a padded pocket for the new small 10" laptops. I might have to get me one of those just for this purse!



My sister-in-law, Deanna, gave me a bag full of clothes for the boys and a set of Adventures Odyssey videos. The boys are excited about those.

Deanna also took me to a thrift shop and I got several neat things. A Pier One cat rack, a vintage red purse, and 2 pillows.

The red purse needs to be cleaned and a vintage hankie needs to peek out of the side. It will be my Sunday purse. I don't know why I feel in love with this little purse. It just spoke to me.

Outside sights

Tea Snob

I admit it, I'm a tea snob. I didn't know that I was a tea snob until yesterday. I'm one of lucky people whose husband actually helps in the house. One of the things Dennis does is to make all our tea. We have never been brand loyal on tea and I usually just pick up whatever tea is on sale. I guess that is why I have not noticed it. Tea is tea after all, right? Wrong! Yesterday, I got a glass of sweet tea and it was truly "nectar of the gods"! It was so good that I think I drank a whole gallon by myself. It turns out to be Lipton decaffeinated tea. It is so good. So, no more off brands, just Lipton in my house!

Flowers from the yard

Thank you Veronica

I wanted to share with everyone a lovely PIF that I received from Veronica in Italy several weeks ago. I received it right before we had to move out of our house for the new floors and I have not posted it yet. I am so glad that Veronica contacted me for I had also lost her contact information. She sent me one of these really cute Ice Cream Cup Trivet. She has this picture posted on her site, Purr-Stitch. You really must visit her blog to see all of her lovely things. She has a cat named Toby that looks just like my Nicholas!

Thank you so much Veronica! I have 3 PIF's that I need to work on myself!

Re-do Boys' Bedroom

I am on a mission to re-do the boys' bedroom this summer. They are out of the little boy stage and being the old age of 8, I think they need a more mature theme to carry them on until 13! I can't stand the thought of them becoming teenagers, but that's another post. Here are my top four selections. Please tell me what you think. Both boys are "ALL" boys - they love dirt, cars, bugs, frogs, dirt (did I mention dirt?!)


BEDDING:

I really like the colors in this one. And, I like the transportation theme. My boys love airplanes, cars, and trains.

I like the heavy machinery theme and I think this is very cute. The only concern I have is all the white on the quilt. Did I mention that my boys LOVE dirt?

I really like this one too. I love the black gingham trim. I think read and black would be pretty to accessorize this room. I don't know if it's "manly" enough for the 8 year olds.

They love bugs and spend most of the summer capturing bees - I know, I know. But, what are you going to do. They feel so proud when they capture a bumblebee. They always let them go after I tell me to do so. I just don't know if this is too girly. I love the colors.

So, what do you think?

What Color Am I?

Your rainbow is strongly shaded blue and white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a contemplative person. You appreciate friends who get along with one another. People depend on you to make them feel secure. You share hobbies with friends and like trying to fit into their routines.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

Thrift Store Treasures

I don't normally visit thrift stores, not on a regular basis. We have so few in town and one is way over-priced and the other just doesn't have much of anything. We do have a Goodwill but it is kinda of pricey as well and usually picked over by the time I make it there. Such is life in a small town. However, last week, I found 2 treasures! Two very small milk glass vases were just waiting for me to take them home. They are no more than 6 inches high and are just adorable.

Free Summer Movies

REG Free Family Film Festival Beginning June 2009! When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!

Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.

This year our own small town theatre is not participating in free movies. We have gone to the free movies for the past 2 or 3 years. We look forward to it every summer. I found this and there is a theatre about 30 miles from us. So, we will be trekking our way to this new theatre. It should be lots of fun. Click on the picture to see if there is a theatre near you that offers this deal! Be sure to put in your state!

Whar Kind of House are You?

My friend Terri has a quiz link on her blog. Just answer the 10 multiple choice questions at HGTV's FrontDoor and it will tell you what kind of house personality you are.

Terri says her type is a refined Victorian. Mine said I am solid as a Ranch house! Simple and suburban by nature, you exude a cozy warmth that lets people know you don't mind if they leave their shoes on in the house -- it's only carpet, after all! Family and friends are important to you, and you love having them stop by. While not overly fussy or vain, you care about your looks -- but honestly, you're happiest in sweatpants. To you, life isn't measured in the goods you've acquired, but in time well spent.

Well, there you go! All this time, I did not realize I was a Ranch House. I would have thought I would have been something more country or Victorian. I even took the quiz twice and came up with the same answer. How sad is that?!

So, I Goggled Ranch houses and this is what I found:

Ranch house plans tend to be simple in design. Aside from shutters and porch roof supports, ranch homes lack much decorative detailing on the exterior. Windows are large, and sliding doors open to a patio or deck.

Hmm, guess I am a ranch house - simple, not much decorative detailing, and the door is always open! Go take the quiz and let me know what house you are.

Flowers

Aren't these beautiful? They are such a rich color. I smile every time I see them.

Where does the time go? I bought these pretty daisies to plant in my yard. Let's hope I can get them planted sometime this spring!

I'm back

Woohoo, I am back in my house - almost! We plan on sleeping here tonight. It will be several more weeks before everything is finished. Here's a fun survey to take here.

You are a Sunflower! In the language of flowers, the sunflower is synonymous with devotion because the blossoms of these mammoth flowers follow the path of the sun across the sky. In a similar manner, you are known for your loyalty and steadiness. You value meaningful relationships, wisdom, and always seek to become the best possible version of yourself. Your friends can count on you for insight and guidance, and you enjoy sharing insight as much as you do acquiring it. An idealist and a romantic, everything you do speaks to your devotion to living a good life and helping others do the same.

I love sunflowers!

I'll be back....

Today we will be unplugging the computers for our move. Since we will not have computer access for the next few weeks, I am not sure if I will be able to blog or not. When I return, I will have lots of before and after pictures. So keep checking back in for updates if possible.

A Story by Deniska

My Four wheeter is red and white . it has some person
That is carrying a gone. It is fast. It doesn't go faster than a car.
When my dad drires my four wheeler he goes fast!!!
MY MOM GO SLOW . ONE TIME MY MOM TOOK A VIDEO
Of us racing. so I wen't the slow path. And my borther wen't the fast way. Then
nikolai turned and he tried to stop the four wheeler
But it didn't. if papa toled us how to stop the back weels, that would not happened.

This is a atv what I
have!

Square Pincushion

I was avoiding work (really house work)the other day and decided to make a pincushion instead. I did not need a pincushion, but as I said, I was avoiding work. Seems when I have a lot to do, I avoid it and craft. This little pincushion was made out of a small square piece of cloth. It's not very big, but big enough for my cross stitch needles. I see more of these in my future!

Easter baskets

Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

2 more ornaments

I stitched these 2 ornaments this past week while I was under the weather and not feeling good. I finished them this morning and am pleased with how they turned out! This makes #6 and #7 of my cross stitch ornament goal. I have a goal of 12! I might just make it this year!!

This one was designed by my friend, Heidi, at Needle Necessities. You need to check out her free pattern each month on the 15th! While you are there, look around at her creative spirit. You are in for a rare treat!

This was was a freebie from the Lizzie-Kate site! I adore Lizzie Kate patterns. I think they are fun to stitch and whimsical at the same time. I love small patterns that I can complete in a few hours.