I recieved a call earlier this evening from my sister in Arizona.
Our little brother had a heart attack and the Dr.'s were unable to revive him.
Sweet hubby and I leave in the morning.

The Letter O

When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.
You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.
DEUTERONOMY 18: 9-14

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture, why you might ask... well, growing up in my family these were "harmless activities" that were a normal way of life. I spent a lot of my childhood in fear. Afraid of falling asleep at night, afraid of taking naps during the day, and afraid of a presence I could always feel but never able to see. Some of us had strange childhood's. Mine certainly was.

There is a spiritual battle going on all around us each day and an unseen enemy that never tires, but is always on the attack, but during times of trouble and fear God's Word is the ONLY source that can calm and comfort our souls. Greater is He that is in me then he that is in the world.

That was fun wasn't it?

For more ABC's of the Word click over to Pam's blog: Grey Like Snuffie and lets stir up God's Word in our hearts.

It's been a quiet day so I thought I would play around with Photoshop to while away the hours. Do you dislike having your picture taken as much as I do? Well, I've come up with a simple solution...cut and paste yourself into different time periods and costumes. With photoshop you can be who ever you want to be. Hey look! Today I'm a Broadway Star!

Birthday Celebration

Saturday afternoon we celebrated the 3rd birthday of our little niece Lien. My BIL and SIL adopted her two years ago from an orphanage in China.
She was named after the province she was born in.

This is her and her daddy playing on the rocks.
She is the cutest little girl with a sweet gentle spirit.

Oops! Did any one see the sign? Does any one care? I think not, but what did the park designers think? "Certainly if we place rocks around the lake no one will climb on them, especially if we put up a sign." I think human nature got the better of my in-laws and had I not been wearing a skirt I probably would have climbed up too :0 !

This is me enjoying the cool gentle breeze.
It looks like I am in serious need of a pedicure.

Jimmy's sister, Donna with our nephew Dominic. He belongs to our niece Seychelle.
Isn't he darling? He is all boy!

My brother-in-law on the left and sweet hubby on the right.

Dominic had the most fun playing on the slide.

Misty Autumn Morn

The view from my window into the Faery Ring.


Come away oh human child to the waters and the wild
with a faery hand in hand for the worlds more full of weeping
than you can understand.

W.B. Yeats


Peering out the screen door to the winding path
that leads to the roses and the world beyond the picket fence.

I John 4:12

No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us.

I John 4:12

We ought not to need night to teach us the glories of the day. We ought not to have to wait for sorrow before we can appreciate the sweetness of joy. Yet is it not true that we learn the value of our blessings but by their loss? Many a time an empty chair is the first full revealer of the worth and faithfulness of a precious human friendship. Would it not be well if we were to seek to appreciate our good things while we have them? We would then have the joy itself, and not merely the dull pain of regret as we look back at blessings vanished. Besides, we would do more for our friends while they are with us if we apprecieted thier worth. Too many of us never understand what we owe to our dear ones until there remains no further opportunity of paying love's debt.

J.R. Miller (1840-1912)
Taken from the book: "Today, Lord, I Will"

In search of Pink Tulle Petticoats

Last weeks search for Pink led my friend Kathy and I down to Long Beach where we drove around frantically searching for Pink. Well, maybe not quite "frantically," but we did have to search for quite some time. On our way back to the freeway I spied a pile of tulle petticoats lying in front of a vintage clothing store, but we were too tired to circle around the block and look for parking so I decided I would just go back the following week...that's today, which by tomorrow would have been yesterday (Friday)!

This time it was my sweet friend and twin "Fiffer Lou" who accompanied me down to the beach in search of pink. We circled 4th street up and down then down and up until Fiffer Lou spotted the coveted petticoats lined up on the sidewalk outside of a small thrift store.
Parking in Long Beach will cost you unless you're willing to park in a neighborhood and walk to where ever you are headed. So that's what we did. The neighborhood we were in was pretty colorful with lots of local flavor and interesting characters.
OK, it was a bit sketchy, but we were on a mission.
When we finally found the store we walked in and were pleasantly surprised to find that the dressing room doors were made from old Philco Refrigerator doors and the center one was the perfect shade of Pink. I decided to be brave and ask the young lady behind the desk if it was OK for me to take a picture and she gave me the sweetest smile and said yes.
I have to say that I was tickled Pink.

Are these the most darling and creative dressing room doors you've ever seen?
I was so enamored with them that I forgot all about the pink tulle petticoat, but then really...what is a 46 year old woman going to do with a pink petticoat anyway? I certainly can't wear it out in public! My friends think I dress strangely as it is.

To get more pink stop by Beverly's Blog: How Sweet the Sound and you'll find more pink posts to enjoy. Happy Pink Weekend!

Time has slowed to a quiet gentle pace here at Brambleberry Cottage. Almost as if we have been lulled into a peaceful dreaminess of soft mornings, serene afternoons, and evenings spent curled up on the couch with a good book. This is without a doubt my favorite way of life. I long for peace and quiet and yet with work obligations and church commitments that peace always seems to be an elusive memory or thought somewhere deep within the recesses of my mind. Always within my reach and yet not quite within my grasp.

We have been doing some much needed work in our herb garden this week. It has been neglected over the last year and become overgrown to the point of being unrecognizable. All that is visible is a tumbled mess of ivy and fern. Beneath the layers of ivy lay the bones of what was once my favorite little "room" in the yard... a flagstone patio planted with 28 varieties of creeping herbs, a sweet plum tree, a hand made bird bath, and a few roses encircled within a white lattice fence. I'm hoping to bring the area back to life over the next several months so it can once again be enjoyed.

The Letter N

Isaiah 54: 11 & 12

For more ABC's of the Word please stop by and visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie.

Image: John William Waterhouse (1849-1917)

End of October
The sleepy brown woods seem to
Nod down their heads to the Winter
Yellows and grays paint the sad skies today
And I wonder when you're coming home
Woke up one morning
The wind through the window
Reminded me winter was just 'round the bend
Somehow I just did not see it was coming
It took me by surprise again

Dan Fogelberg: Old Tennessee

Proverbs 16:20

Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:20

We never know the meaning of trust until we learn the nature of trial. It is in trial that we have to put into practice the theory of believing in God. Trust is to become the habit of the soul. But often, I am perplexed about faith, because, instead of being occupied with the Object of faith, I am thinking about the act of believing. But faith never comes in this way. It has no existence apart from Him who is the object of it. "Whoever trusts in the Lord." Let our thoughts be occupied with God's revealed character, with what He is to us and what He has done for us, and we shall, without trying to believe, begin to put our trust in Him. It is with who God is that my mind must be occupied; my mind then finds it's resting place in God, and I begin to know a peace that could never be found in this world. I see then how true are the words, "Happy is he."

Trial therefore is the testing ground or school for trust. It is there that I learn the lesson of implicitly confiding in God, and of waiting patiently on Him.

Taken from the book, "Today, Lord, I Will"

Cute Pink Ride!

Here we are for another fun Pink Saturday
hosted by our lovely Beverly at: How Sweet the Sound.
This week I thought I'd have plenty of pink to post. My friend Kathy and I were going to a huge craft fair so I tucked my camera snuggly in my purse and off we went to the Long Beach Convention center where I was anticipating tons of pink.
We buy our tickets, make our way to the entrance door where there's a huge sign posted...
"NO PHOTOGRAPHY ONCE INSIDE!"
Being the obedient chicken that I am, I decided to honor the "SIGN" and left my camera tucked snuggly inside my purse.
I was surprised to see that there wasn't much pink once we were inside.

Feeling defeated we left, but before making our way back home we drove around Long Beach in search of Pink. We couldn't find it anywhere. We drove down street after street until finally we found the perfect pink appliance in the window of a restoration shop. It was the prettiest little Pink Double Oven by Wedgwood.
Standing on the opposite side of the street were a group of less than savory looking youths so we continued our search. We passed building after building until finally Kathy said, "what we need is a Pink car." Within 30 seconds of her saying that we drove past this VW shop with this darling Pink VW Van. It was the perfect shade of Pink.

Is this cute or what?! Satisfied with our mission we headed home, but as we were pulling out of the parking space we spied a pile of vintage tutu's laying on the side walk and one of them just happened to be pink. If it's still there next week IT IS MINE!

OK, If you'd like to see more pink just roll on over to How Sweet the Sound.
Beverly will have plenty more pink to choose from. And don't forget:
PINK! IT'S NOT JUST A COLOR...IT'S AN ATTITUDE!

Hopefully next week I'll be able to post some Pink from Little India.
That's where Kathy and I are headed today in search of Pink Belly Dance trinkets.
Have a fun Pink day Ladies!

The Letter M

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Hebrews 1:1-4

For more ABC's of the WORD stop by Pam's blog at Grey Like Snuffie and help us stir up Fod's word in our hearts.

I have been the recipient of many sweet awards from my friend Pat over at Mille Fiori Favoriti, but I think this one is my favorite. Blogging Friends Forever! It has a nice ring to it don't you think?
Pat was the first person to ever post on my blog, the first person to give me an award, and the first Bloglandia friend that I've met in person. You could say that Pat and I have a history of "First" and I truly cherish my first bloggy friend so Thank you Pat, you are always a blessing.

Now the rules:

1. You may only chose 5 people/blogs to give the award to...

2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog...

3. One has to be a new follower of your blog or live in another part of the world...

This is always hard for me because there are so many blogs that I love for different reasons and I always feel as if I pass my awards on to the same people, but what can I say...they have made this whole blogging experience worth the time and effort so I would like to first pass this award back to Pat. Pat, I feel as if you, me, and Tara are like the "Bloggy Musketeers." One for all and all for one!

1a. Tara of Days Missed on a Hammock. Tara is always full of life, but lately has been missing from Blogland. If you think about it, please send up a little prayer for her and her family. Tara, I miss you and pray that you will be back with us soon. But please take your time. Time to heal is a priority.

2. Ellen B. of The Happy Wonderer. Ellen has been with me from the beginning and I always enjoy trying to keep up with her posting. Sometimes there are two in one day. Ellen, one day it would be fun...Pinkie's Up!

3. I'm going to give this one to my darling friend Moorea at Home Schooling Sentiments. She has four boys and little time to post, but when she does it's always a delight to read and she's the only person brave enough to comment when I'm having one of those days where you wish you had clicked over to read some other person's blog. Thanks Moo!

4. This one goes to Becky of One Shabby Old House. Becky and I met on a Pink Saturday and became best friends overnight. She is a sweet Southern Belle living her (and my) dream of restoring an old Victorian Cottage. Becky, you're the best!

5. My last person has been with me for about two months and I love her dearly. BJ of Sweet Nothings. BJ found me on Tara's blog and popped right over and became a permanent fixture. I like that about her. She has the wittiest post in all of Texas and if ever I'm there you can bet I'll be knocking on your door Miss BJ. And if that never happens well, I'll see you there on the other side and we can dip our toes in the stream of life.

So, thank you all for being the best bloggy friends a girl couldever dream of having.

Isaiah 43 verse 2

When you walk through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned.

Isaiah 43:2

This promise does not tell us that we shall not pass through deep water, nor does it say we shall not cross turbulent rivers, nor walk in the furnace of affliction. What it does say is that, though those things may come to us, we need not go through them alone. The Great I AM will go with us every step of the way. He measures the depth of the water, the swiftness of the river's current, the intensity of the furnace heat. And His love will not allow the water to be one fraction of an inch deeper than we can pass through. His compassion will not allow the river's current to be one mite stronger than we can stand. His goodness will control the temperature of the furnace so that it will only refine our gold.

Oliver G. Wilson

Taken from the Book, "Today, LORD, I Will"

My Note: Over the past 23 years this book has been my favorite devotional packed with so many solid truths about God's Word and how to live as a Christian. Many times our lives are filled with tragedy, heartache, financial struggles, and other various trials that come our way. But there is a truth that is hard for many Christians to grasp. Trials will come! It is a way of life for the believer. And when they do we should not feel that our Heavenly Father is punishing us for some wrong doing or that He has abandoned us, but His desire is to perfect us into His image. The trials are our training ground. The question is...will we be willing to trust Him through the trials or will we be rebellious and try to take matters into our own hands?

A Little bit of Pink

I love to visit small towns that have the feel of being lost in time
and this is one of my favorites... Old Towne Tustin. I used to work not to far from here and would often drive over during lunch for a treat at my favorite tea/coffee house. Sadly it is no longer there, but what is, is this darling design shop called Vintage Lady.
I was determined to sneak inside and snap some PINK pictures. Luckily the owner was in the back garden watering the plants, but the big chicken that I am was terrified of being caught in the act so I went out to the garden and asked, "would it be ok if I took a few pictures inside the shop?" She was more than happy to oblige me.
BIG SIGH of RELIEF!

The exterior of the store... no pink yet!

The other side of the store front and still no pink.

AH! But look what I found inside... Pink!
They have one room that's entirely done in pink from the walls to the ceiling to the floor and then of course everything in between. The owner told me this was the most popular room and that whenever she tells clients she's thinking about redoing it they get upset. So it stays pink.

A sweet table covered with pink candles, soaps, and other sweet pink.

And look! Even the table beneath it is pink! I meandered out to the garden, but wasn't willing to press my luck and ask for pictures there too even though the garden was spilling over in pink.
I left and wandered around the corner to find another little jewel tucked away between the buildings and houses...

McCharles House. This used to be a Tea Room/Restaurant, but I think it has other uses now. I tried to peek inside, but the gate was latched tight and the outdoor seating had vanished without a trace. They do still hold Tea's here, but I believe it's only for special occasions. I really should call and get my facts straight. There were some pink roses blooming out front.

There's nothing prettier in Autumn than Pink!

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly at: How Sweet the Sound.

It may not feel like Autumn...

But it certainly looks like Autumn!
Yesterday on my way home from work I took a detour through the Happiest place on Earth. This time of year it's always decked out with pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, and Autumn banners, which I failed to get a picture of. One of the first places I like to visit in the park is Big Thunder Ranch, which has been transformed into Woody's Round-Up. Not that I like Woody or anything. Actually if the truth be known I think he's sscccaaarrrrryyyy! But, the area is transformed into a holiday wonderland complete with crafts, cookie decorating, and live entertainment.

Pumpkins and Autumn colors as far as the eye can see.

Isn't this a darling little Surrey? What I wouldn't give to have one of these as a mode of transportation. I sure could haul a lot of furniture with this.

A sportier version. Hey, where are the horses!

I walked into the log cabin and these two old guys were seated at the table playing cards. It was a deja vu moment for me as I felt like I'd walked into my grand dad's house and found he and my cousin Elmer sitting around the table playing cards, drinking coffee, and weaving tall tales. They once tried convincing me that we were of Egyptian descent. "Yah! Right!" Now that I look at the picture I think those are their hats. They always dressed like cowboys.

Woody's stage. I love this old barn at Christmas time all wrapped up
in red and white gingham.

.Outside the cabin was a woman carving pumpkins.
Isn't the Queen of Hearts darling?

How's this for advertising? I like the fact that Northern bathroom tissue
is splinter free. Now that's a real selling point!

This piece of furniture would look perfect in my house.
Or would all my furniture look perfect in this cabin?

This little guy was too cute, but the witch behind him...no thank you!
It started to get dark and a bit nippy out so I made my way back home.
Maybe it is starting to feel like Autumn after all.