Curious Things

I love going to someones house for the first time and seeing what kind of curious things they have, but while cleaning my house a few days ago I realized I had a few of my own.

This is my office or should I say sweet hubby's office. About ten years ago he started building a wooden airplane to fly in. It was an open cockpit and only big enough for the two of us and a small pic-nic basket. Production stopped when we discovered termites in the garage. The tail has been leaning against the office wall ever since.

A wooden airplane propeller found in the desert by my dad. It's from the 30's and the logo is still visible. One year for Christmas my dad gave it to my sweet hubby. He was so excited!

An old whiskey bottle from my grandfather's collection and a scale model of a 1910-20 Harley Motorcycle. My hubby rides a Harley so as gifts he always receives Harley paraphernalia...oh! I bought him that one.

There's also a program from Bugs Bunny's 50th Birthday party. A copper spring from one of my 140 year old parlor chairs. I couldn't part with that!

And the last picture is a lovely chair from the 30's covered in 1970's burnt orange. I bought the piece to upholster and hubby fell in love with it the way it was. So there it sits in all its orange vinyl. Of course I had to add floral pillows (smile).

What kind of curious things do you have?

Behold, I am the LORD,

the God of all flesh.

Is there anything too hard for Me?

Jeremiah 32:27

For more A, B, C's of the Word please visit Grey Like Snuffie's blog.

What do you do when you've made a decision that once made you feel you're unable to live with? You try to make sense out of what's happened and start to pick up the pieces...that's all you can do. That's what's been going on in my life the last few weeks. Not that my life has been turned upside down and inside out, but several young women that I've recently met are being faced with choices that no woman should have to face.
One has already made her choice and has become a shadow of her former self. Where once there were dreams there is a waking
nightmare and joy has been replaced by sorrow.
She is unable to sleep at night for fear of where her dreams may lead, but she is tormented by day because of the knowledge she now holds.
Her life has become an emotional shipwreck. Her heart has been shattered in two.
The other woman is still contemplating the path before her and what choice she will make. She feels alone and helpless, unable to care for herself let alone a little one.
If each one of them understood how deeply they are loved by the Creator of the universe, the God of Israel, the One who died to save them from a life of destruction and despair, would the one have made the choice she did and would the other choose to do what she knows in her heart she should? I can't answer that question for only He knows, but I can be there to comfort the one and help guide the other.

"Hello!" "Hello!"

I know it sounds funny, but I started blogging as a work assignment. Yes, a work assignment. The organization that I work for received a grant from another organization and one of the stipulations of the grant was to attend a certain percentage of workshops held by said organization.
After attending the seminar on websites we were challenged to go home, spend a few minutes and set up our own blog. So I did.
At first it was difficult because I'm computer challenged (which is really scary considering everyone at work comes to me to fix theirs), but then I discovered that I could actually add my own graphics and customize it to fit my particular style...foofy girl with all things pink and flowery.
I never imagined that anyone would ever go on my blog and post a comment...this is where it gets strange.
One day I found a comment from Pat in my email box. Then Tara followed her and then there was Ellen B. and a whole new world opened up to me, but I find the communication to be a bit awkward. While I love posting comments and reading those of others I feel like there's a lag time almost like when you drop calls on your cell but you haven't got a clue so you keep talking.
"Hello," "Hello," I always wonder if my follow up comments make it to their destination or if they're floating around on the Internet or in outer space. So, this is my question to all of you whom I've grown to adore through your blogs, posts, and comments... "How do you communicate?" Do you use the "follow up comments option" or do you just go back to the original post to see if anything is there for you?
Please let me know as there have been times that I've felt a little rude and I'd be horrified to think that any of you felt offended or ignored.
And thanks for reading this long and "wordy" post.
Cori G.

"Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. "It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not to eat. God says we mustn't eat it or ever touch it, or we will die."

Genesis 3:3

Someone has said, "Never put a question mark where God has placed a period." In essence, that is what Eve did when she fell for Satan's scheme to plant the tiny, seemingly harmless seed of doubt in her mind. His "Has God said?" comes to us in various guises today. Temptations to disobey God's clear -cut commands or the dictates of conscience touch all of us. A tendency to "doubt at night what God has told us in the day" plagues most of God's people at one time or another. I wonder if we really believe God's unequivocable tone in this portion of scripture?

Taken from the book: Today, Lord, I Will

Pink Saturday

Hi, this is my first post for Pink Saturday. I live in a little house called Brambleberry Cottage that is spilling over with the color pink so I thought this would be easy and yet, I couldn't think of anything pink to post. So these will have to do for now. 1. A pink and cream rose... 2. My Cherry Blossom depression glass cake plate... 3. A lovely Colonial Revival light fixture with a cheesy 1960's installation job... 4. and to top it all off a yummy delicious pink coconut cupcake.

PINK! It's not just a color it's an attitude!

I was in an antiques store over a year ago and saw that quote painted on a sign. I fell in love with it immediately.

For more Pink Saturday posts please stop by and visit

How Sweet the Sound

Tea cups and friendship

Last Friday was my monthly doggy date with my sweet friend and her pups at the beach. She brought me this special treat (or should I say two treats) that had belonged to her mom. Aren't they darling!

We've been having exceptional sunsets here in Southern California where the sky has been filled with dappled clouds in various shades of pinks and peach. It must be due to the extreme humidity we've been experiencing.

I took a few pictures...I hope you enjoy them.

What I’ll give you
Since you’ve asked
Is all my time together
Take the rugged sunny days
The warm and rocky weather
Take the roads that I have walked
Looking for tomorrow’s time
Peace of mind --

As your life spills into mine
Changing with the seasons
Filling up the world with time
Change time to reasons
I can show you all the songs
That I never sang to someone before.

We have seen a million stars
Lying by the water
You have climbed the hills with me
To the mountain shelter
Taking off the days
One by one
Setting them to breath
In the sun.

Take the lilies and the lace
From the days of childhood
All the willow winding paths
Leading up and outward
This is what I give
This is what I ask you for
Nothing more.

Since You’ve Asked Lyrics:
Dan Fogelberg

With this Ring I thee Wed!

July 23, 1994 sweet hubby and I were married in this

Historic Jewish Synagogue in the heart of Old Towne, San Diego.

We celebrate 14 years of love, friendship, and commitment...

Till DEATH do we part!

Do you think it's too girly?

My new bicycle basket...do you think it's too girly?

I used three different fabrics for the outside
and the inside lining is going to be trimmed in vintage lace.

Here's a close up of the lace. When my grandad died several years ago one of my aunts sent me a box filled with jewelry, old lace, and a Victorian mourning cape that was so beautiful, but I didn't know what to do with it so I donated it to a Victorian clothing museum. I'm still kicking myself in the derriere for that one.

It was made from beaded jet...dumb I know.

Here it is on the front of my bike.

And here's another shot of my bike...in the living room? Yes, that's where she is parked and that's where she stays...unless of course I'm riding her.

Now aren't you glad you stopped over :)?

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

Psalm 77:6

The Living Bible renders this verse: "Then my nights were filled with joyous songs. I search my soul and meditate upon the difference now." Here's a spiritual lesson I need to remember. If the Lord had not made the night, I would not have had a song. When I look at my circumstances from the underside, I often fail to see their true shape. But when I let God change my perspective and "show me the end from the beginning," everything changes. As the Psalmist says in Psalm 42:8, "By day the Lord commands His steadfast love; and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life." When God allows my faith to be stretched, He's not punishing me, He's giving me a chance to grow!

Taken from the book: Today, Lord, I Will

This is where I work

Once a month I have to work one Saturday and today was that day so I thought I would show you where I work. This is my space...

I have copies of Vintage Nursery Rhymes on the wall above my computer. Mary had a little Lamb, Jack and Jill, and Jack be nimble. I also have a sign reminding myself that even though I work in a Christian environment I (we) can be impatient, testy, and sometimes unthankful, but the Lord is still compassionate toward us therefore we need to be compassionate with others.
My little Peter Rabbit pull toy greets me each day as I enter my room. He was given to me by one of my dear friends when she found out I was unable to have children. She knows how I love bunnies, especially Peter. When I see him each day I'm reminded of her gentle concern for me and I pray for her.

There's a sack of stones in a burlap bag that rests at my feet. The total weight of the stones... 33 lbs. which to me holds significance even though I paid little attention to the weight when I purchased them. Some of the stones represent broken hearts or shattered dreams while others speak of hurts that were inflicted upon us during our childhood. Whatever they represent they are heavy and burdensome to carry day after day and sometimes we feel as if they are going to drag us down with them... often they do. What kind of stones have you been carrying around and for how long?

And then there's the cross... the cross that we nail our sins to. The cross that is ever before us. I have a little lamb that sits on the cross to remind me of the Lamb that was slain before the foundations of the earth.

So this is where I work, in the midst of the broken hearts, the shattered dreams, the lost innocence, and the empty arms, and yet in the center of it all is Grace, Forgiveness, and Redemption.

Tagged Again!

Well, it looks like I'm participating in another tag and this time it was Marye over at Baking Delights. She comes up with the most amazing recipes so if you like to bake...or not, stop by her blog. She also has tons of helpful information.

Here's the rules:

1. Link to the person who “tagged” you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know your entry is up.



OK, 6 random things about me...let's see.....................
1. I love Office Supply stores. I don't know why, but they're so much fun. All the paper, tags, binders, sharpie's, colored pens, clips. Too many to mention.
2. I am a museum guards nightmare. I lean over the ropes, touch the paintings, and if there's fabric, watch out! I've actually had a few of them follow me.
3. I'm very tactile. I love anything with texture (except gooey things).
4. 8 years ago I discovered I was dyslexic which was a huge relief. I spent 38 years thinking I was dumb and it's comforting to know I'm not...well, maybe just a little :)
5. I rarely drink hot tea, but if I could I would have a tea party every week. 6. No matter what the season, I always wear long skirts with a petticoat underneath. If anyone else would like to be tagged, please feel free.

Thanks Marye, this was fun!

Meet Betsy!

It appears that my blog posts have become like a wheel stuck in a rut in the road. I keep doing "project posts" so I decided before I pull my wheel out I'd share one more project.

This is Betsy my little couch that sits in the office amongst all of sweet hubby's Harley and airplane paraphernalia.

Several years back I took an upholstery class that I think figured into my six years of Jr. College or Community College as they now call it. Anyway, I have these chairs from the 1860's that I wanted to have reupholstered but wasn't willing to hand them over to someone so I took a class and when I completed the chairs I just kept finding more things to redo. There's something REALLY THERAPEUTIC about slamming nails with a hammer.

Pillows. I have this little weird quirk that whenever I get ready to sew something I have to play with the fabrics for awhile...do I want this one in front...do I want that as an accent piece...do I really want to use that fabric at all. Those are the weird thoughts that go through my head as I begin my project...any project. I laid all the fabric out on the work table and it stayed there for 3 weeks until my husband finally asked when I was going to start sewing.

A side view of the throw pillows. I bought these great pillow inserts that have gussets so I was able to do the roaching (?) on the sides. I can't even begin to tell you how many needles I broke.

Hopefully this is the end of "Home Project Posts" for awhile...until the next project comes along. I'm still working on my curtains.

As if we don't have enough to do...

we added another project to our LIST!

Last week one of my co-workers popped into my office to tell me that her husband was going to chop up their dingy and throw it in the trash. "You have a dingy?" "My sweet hubby has wanted a dingy for so long and I've had a bee in my bonnet to buy kayaks or some sort of small water craft that we can enjoy as a family." Two adults, two dogs...that consists of a family doesn't it? Anyway, I said, "No! We'll take it! Don't let him chop it up." Who knew she had a dingy laying around the yard. I certainly didn't. So, Sunday after church we went and picked it up and here it is...isn't it darling? We just love it to pieces!
Sure, it needs a little bit of work, but nothing a can of stripper, fiberglass, and paint won't solve and yes, I will be helping with the restoration project. I have 15 years experience as a nail technician and am quite familiar with the process of applying fiberglass. If you can apply silk nails then you can apply fiberglass.

Look at that cute nautical rope around the upper edge.

A tiny amount of wood rot, but nothing major and the seats are going to be replaced with white oak... simple and yet elegant.

My hubby thinks it should take about a month to finish and since we live in Southern California it should still be warm enough to find out if it's sea worthy. We're going to name her Roxie. Cute don't you think?

AAAHHHH! The Hollyhock's are still blooming

in our little cottage garden.