The Loopy Lady

I think I've inhaled way too many toxins over the last week and it's made me a wee bit loopy. This morning I slept until 9:00 which is totally unheard of and then while at church I was a smidglet irritable. Hubby forgot his wallet so I had to drive home on the 405 to the 55 and then the 5. I have no idea why, but I become completely disoriented on those two freeways and the way they merge from one to the next is enough to unnerve the calmest of drivers, which is why it's always hubby's job to drive. The next thing I know I'm giggling uncontrollably and can't stop. Did I get too much sleep? Is it the smell of all the chemicals in the cottage? Or am I just losing it? I don't know, but what ever it is I hope it passes soon.

We're still working on our room and have got to the "painting faze!" One coat down, one to go! Then we have to install all the bead board, paint it, move the furniture back in, and put shelves in the closet. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? I think so, but it's taking longer then I thought it would. But then why should I expect anything to go smoothly when it comes to this cottage of mine? It's almost as if it has a personality of its own and doesn't like change...too bad little cottage because your going to get fixed whether you like it or not. OK, you're probably thinking, "Cori, it's not the chemicals, your losing it!" I think it's the chemicals.

Well, I think I'm going to take a nap and hopefully by Tuesday I'll have some pictures of my progress to share with you all. The picture above is the room after we cleaned the walls and had it prepped for painting. Last night at 9:00 we were rehanging the window as the spring broke and we couldn't move it up or down. We had to remove all the molding to pull the window out then hubby had to dash off to Home Depot to buy a new spring.
OK, I'm going now because this post is just getting loopier and loopier. I hope you all have a lovely Sunday evening.

Behold, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11

We should learn to look at the faults of others only through loves eyes, with charity, patience, and compassion. We do not know what piercing sorrows have produced the scars which we see in people's souls. We do not know the pains and trials which make life hard to many with whom we are tempted to be impatient. If we knew all the secret burdens and the heart-wounds which many carry hidden beneath their smiling faces, we would be patient and gentle with all men.

J.R. Miller (1840-1912).

You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73: 24-26
Good morning Ladies,

I can't believe that we are already on the letter P, can you?
Last night as I was pondering the letter P I was reading through Psalms and ran across this promise. What ever you may be going through, the Lord is there and He is our strength, refuge, rock, and hiding place that we can run to no matter how the storms rage around us. He is our portion FOREVER!!!

I pray that today you would find strength in Him and His words.

For more ABC's of God's Word visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie and help us stir up God's Word in our hearts.

What, This Ol' Thing?

This ol' thing has been sitting in my backyard for about a month now and every time I pass it by I think, "when is hubby going to dump that thing in the garbage!" But yesterday as I was watering the hollyhock it caught my eye and I started to imagine all the wonderful things I could do with it. I love its shapely legs and industrial wheels, in fact, I've always had an affection for old metal things and reusing them for other than what they were originally intended.
So I've decided this ol' thing is going to be painted white and brought indoors to be used as the end table next to the guest bed. Now to find the perfect lamp :)!

Words I swore I would NEVER utter...

There are two things in life that a girl can never have enough of, no,
make that three.

Chocolate, China, and Pillows,
and not necessarily in that order.

However, this girl is beginning to wonder about the emotional attachment to pillows and if maybe there is a limit to the amount of pillows one girl can possess!
Hubby and I were having a conversation the other day about all the pillows scattered hither and yon throughout our petite little cottage. I only have 11 on our bed and 10 on the guest bed plus there are those on the couch as well as every chair in our darling dwelling. Hubby once commented that people don't like visiting because they have to fight off the pillows...
and I always thought it was my cooking.
Can you imagine not wanting to visit me because I have too many pillows? Me neither, until I decided to curl up on the couch in my office, and you know what? I couldn't find anywhere to sit. I could have tried doing my "Princess and the Pea" act by climbing to the top of my pillow pile, but I knew they would rebel and send me plummeting to the floor below. Pillows with attitude!
Maybe there was some truth to what hubby said. Maybe my pillows were pushing people off the couch and poking them in the back. Maybe too many pillows isn't such a good thing after all...
What do you think and how many pillows do you have?

Oh, the room? We're still waiting for the varnish to dry before we seal it with polyurethane.
And I thought I'd be painting by now...silly me!

The White Lady

Hello! I've been buried in dust and covered in stain the last couple of days and then there was the accidental unplugging of the Internet. Hubby forgot that our cottage is a tad bit jimmy rigged and unplugged our phone line that stretches from the guest room all the way into the office...oops! I only found out when I went to order pizza. Good thing we all have cell phones. I love technology, don't you?

Anyway, I'm only checking in and will be gone in the twinkling of an eye, but I was wondering if you remembered this lovely lady that I found along the side of the road? Well, it looks like I decided to keep her and I named her "The White Lady." My sassy friend Darling Deb from Midlife Poet referred to her as that and the Title just stuck, however, now she needs a story...hmm :).
Anyway, like I said just here for a twinkle. Hubby should be walking through the door any second with that tasty pizza. We're going to enjoy it with one of our favorite movies, Hidalgo!

Have a lovely evening everyone!

The Floor and other Rescued Objects

Ooh, look at that pretty floor! Pretty disgusting, don't you think? Can you imagine all that nasty stuff under the rug for years and years and years...YUK! But once the carpet and foam were out and the floor was vacuumed it was in much better shape then I expected, and guess what? There was not a stain on the floor. It was perfect!
I've had many lovely little guests inhabit this room who I believe enjoyed the soft plush warmth of the carpet beneath their feet as they've piddled in corners and under the bed. Can you imagine scolding a sweet little fuzzy bunny for such an act of rebellion? They don't listen. They don't care. All they know is that it was more convenient then running to the litter box one room away. Oh yes! I've had INDOOR bunnies. Three to be exact. The first was Mr. Lumpkin, then came Poppet Muldoone, and my final indoor bun was Toodles MacGruder. Bunnies, bunnies, how I love bunnies. Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wander off on one of my rabbit trails.


Every home has objects that are either rarely used or completey forgotten until one day when the mistress goes searching for that one particular item only to find a treasure trove of things once held dear. That's just what happened to me as I was cleaning out the closet...if you remember, this room has always been refered to as, "The Black Hole." Once things end up there they are never seen again.
I uncovered two of these English Oak chairs in the closet. The other two are in the living room, but none of them can be sat on. Can you guess what my next project will be?

And then there's this lovely arm chair that has been patiently waiting for me to find the inspiration before I begin its restoration. While at the fabric store yesterday I found the most gorgeous fabric with huge red and pink roses. It sang to me as I walked by.
Fabric does that you know!

And I found these in a box of photographs...the bells of my childhood.
Growing up they hung on the front door of my grandma's house and whenever I would visit one of my favorite things was to swing the door back and forth just to hear the sweet melody. Oh, and Robin, if you read this post and remember there were seven strands of bells...this is only one strand. The rest are hanging on the back of my front door ;).

It feels much like moving day at Brambleberry Cottage what with all the boxes stacked on every available surface and tucked in every corner, but I'll spare you by not showing you how everything has been turned topsy turvy. Well, maybe I'll show you just a little...

The hallway has become home to the bed and the radiator and this is one of the less cluttered rooms, if you can call a hall a room :).
Oh, Ellen B, thank you for the advise and reminder. I took two Excedrin "Back and Body" pills before going to bed and woke up feeling perfectly refreshed.
Now, I must be off for another day of hard labor. Base boards need to be removed along with all the moldings around the windows and doors. Ooohh! This is exciting!!
I love a hard days work and the progress that it brings!

The Day has Arrived!

Good morning ladies,
I hope you all have exciting plans for the weekend ahead. Me? I'll be pulling the ugly old brown carpet out of the guest room then refinishing the hardwood floor beneath and I decided that since everything was going to be out of the room I may as well re-paint, replace the trim, make new curtains, and convert my over stuffed closet into someplace I can work on crafts. But, before all that happens I have to clean the room out...oi vey! Fifteen years is the longest I've been in the same place and I've collected lots of "things" that I have no idea where I'm going to store while the work is being done.

Mamselle was a bit miffed last night when I moved her from her lovely suite and into the room with the airplane propeller and wooden tail wing, but she became truly horrified when she glanced about and saw all the motorcycle paraphernalia and "manly" objects flung here and there. She much prefers to be cozied up to her pink cast iron radiator that warms her cold metal cage and makes her all toasty inside. Oh yah... the radiator! It has to removed from the room too. What a project that is! I think it weighs at least 150 lbs. and can only be moved by placing rags under its feet and drug from one location to the next. I found it in the corner of an old antiques shop 21 years ago. Its one of those objects that I just can't live without.

So this is where I'll be for the next few days, most likely covered in dust and paint and tripping over all my lovely things, but I'll check in from time to time and let you know how the project goes.

Until then, have lots of fun!

The Letter O

⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

¹¹ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”’

¹⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

²⁶ And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

²⁹ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Revelation 2 verses: 7,11,17,26, & 29

For more ABC's of the Word visit Pam and Grey Like Snuffie and join us as we stir up God's Word in our (your) hearts.

I stand corrected!
Hubby said the quote REALLY read:
If you find a Bible that is falling apart
it belongs to a person that isn't...

but mine was close enough :)

The Guest Writer

Did you know I have another blog? I do, but I seldom post over there. It's called the "Pinkie Teas" and started out as an idea between three friends to start our own little Tea Society where anyone could join. We were going to meet by-monthly, have our own newsletter, and just have fun, but then hubby was laid off and I had to take on more hours at work which meant less time for the funner things in life. That was four years ago and our little society still hasn't taken wing and flown to who knows where, but Janet and I have continued to dream and still get together for tea as often as we can.

This is Janet and I at the last tea we attended which is one of our favorite annual events. It's called "Locke & Noble Tea" and is held in the home of the couple that host the tea...such a lovely event!

Recently Janet attended a tea and wanted to post it on the "Pinkie Teas" blog so I said, "send me some pictures and your write-up then I'll post it." So if you'd like to read about Janet's interesting adventure click on the picture that says, "Pinkie Teas" and it will redirect you to her post.

I hope you enjoy my Guest Writer and her recap of her "Teaventure."
Pinkies Up!

Open Mouth wide, insert Foot as far as you can!

Yesterday was one of those days were I kept doing exactly that! Could I get my mouth in my foot any deeper or vice versa? I don't think so!
My morning started out like any other Saturday morning: out of bed at 6:00 am, feed and water the livestock, jump in the shower, then head to belly dance class. On my way to class I spied this lovely lady sunning on a fence, but I was running late (I have become Alice's White Rabbit) and thought I'd stop on my way home and see if she was still there.
Two hours later there she was just waiting for me, or was she? I became so excited that I called my friend to see if she wanted her, not even knowing if she wanted one of these things, but on further examination I thought, "oops! I'd like to keep her for myself." AAARRRRGGGGGHHHH!!!! What do I do??? At first my friend was hesitant and said she didn't have any place to put her, but had all these questions..."is she in good shape? What does she look like? How tall is she?" And all the while I'm thinking, "NO! I found her! I must keep her for myself and I have the perfect place." I asked the guy how much she was going for, he said, "name a price," I said, "$10," he said, "$15?" I said, "DONE" and walked away with her. So what do I do? What would you do?
I blurted out to my friend that I just may keep her myself and she said that was fine, but now the guilt sets in. Oh how I hate guilt and the things it motivates us to do :(! But now my question is do I keep her for myself or give her to my friend? Have I already asked this question?

So home I went with my new treasure or my friends' treasure or who knows who's treasure, but when I arrived home things were amiss.

Hubby has a favorite Saturday morning haunt called the Donut Derelicts where these old guys get together for a car show and motorcycle meet. They eat donuts and talk about their bikes then ride to other motorcycle shops and eat their donuts...it's a guy thing. So that was were hubby was supposed to be while I was at class, but when I returned home I found hubby's motorcycle jacket and helmet on the dining room table along with his cell phone. That was odd.
I looked in the garage and both bikes were there as well as his bicycles. The truck was in the front yard and all his airplanes where in their imaginary hangers. "where did he go?" You see, my husband is the most dependable man I've ever met and never does strange things like disappearing into thin air so I had to wonder what had happened to him. After searching for half an hour I became a tad bit panicked and started calling the neighbors, but no one saw anything peculiar. So I panicked some more and called his sister who just happened to be headed in the direction of Brambleberry Cottage.
She searched the neighborhood but to no avail so we decided to sit down and pray. Hello! I always say that prayer should be your first resort and not your last, but can I follow my own advise when the hubby vanishes into thin air? Nope!
After we prayed my sister-in-law decided to make another trip around the neighborhood and a few minutes after she left the land line rang and it was the missing husband...Thank you Lord!!! One of his friend's stopped by and wanted to go out for breakfast so off they went without leaving a note or any clues whatsoever. Did I mention that we had a birthday party to go to in the afternoon? We did and we were to leave the house about 12:20 and it was now 11:30 so we arrived at the party a little late.
It was my little cousin's 2nd Birthday party. She's my cousin "once removed" and such a darling little thing. That's her little gift up above. I bought her several books which are one of her favorite things as well as mine. I can spend hours in the children's section of the bookstore...so much fun!

Well that was my exciting adventure for yesterday and I hope not to repeat it anytime soon...the disappearing hubby act and the alarming the neighbors in the process. Can you image how embarrassed I was to call all my neighbors back and tell them he wasn't in the hospital but out to breakfast with a friend? Guess I need to learn how to think a little better before I speak :0!

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:6

What does it mean to "acknowledge" God in all our ways? Do we make much of God in our lives? Is He really important to us in conscious personal experience? Are we not prone to make plans and carry them out without consulting Him? True, we talk to Him about our souls and about our spiritual affairs, but do we speak to Him about our daily work, our trials, our perplexities, our weekday life. We are not to shut God out of any part of our lives. If we would be able to handle all that lies before us, we need something besides human nature, even at it's best. We must get our little lives so attached to God's life that we can draw from His fullness in every time of need.

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

The Vineyard at Brambleberry Cottage

A few days ago I posted pictures of our small vineyard here at Brambleberry and my sweet friend Fairmaiden asked some questions about it so I thought I would post a few more. The picture below is of the vine in March with my wisteria in the background. Each winter I trim it back to the stump, but as you can see by all the barren vines I neglected to do it this year.



Beyond the fence and through the vine is our outdoor living room with a double Adirondack love seat and two single Adirondacks plus my potting bench that sweet hubby built for me. It has a bit of a Gothic feel to it.

This is what it looks like today! It seems that the gardener is neglecting her duties what with all the lovely weeds everywhere you look. But then the definition of a weed applies to anything that grows where you don't want it. Hmmm...does that mean the rouge roses that pop up in strange places are weeds or merely roses growing where they please? I wonder?

And this is what it looks like from the cottages backdoor. There's only one vine that makes up the entire vineyard, but it engulfs everything in its path including the roses, furniture, and my beloved wisteria vine. The birds flock to it and the possums hide beneath its branches and everything is lovely...one vine works for me! I've even found a tiny snake back there hiding beneath a pot. At least I think it was a snake...I'd be horrified if it were a baby lizard that I hacked to pieces while screaming like a wild banshee. The neighbors must have thought I was nuts!

As you enter the vineyard through the arch you're greeted by Gwendolyn's younger sister Maryweather Faerie. I don't believe you've ever met Gwendolyn, have you? No, I don't believe so. I'll have to introduce you to her sometime. She's the faerie who dwells beneath the eaves of our weence little cottage. One day I came home and found her hiding amidst the tall fern beneath the tree so I lured her indoors with promises of pretty ribbons, glistening jewels, and fresh strawberries dipped in cream. She's never ventured outdoors again. She prefers the security of a roof over her head and four walls to protect her, unlike her little sister who's a bit of a prankster.

Oh look! Maryweather is blowing pixie dust at you...how sweet! Better that then the dust of broken hearts, don't you think? I agree whole heartedly!



Our little vine sprawls up and over an arch made of re-bar and then onto a fence made with heavy gauge wire. It's a simple structure really and would take a few hours to build.
Fairmaiden, I'll have to find the pictures from when we first built it so you'll have a better idea of how it was done. My pictures were taken before I had a digital and they're buried somewhere in the "black hole."

If you look very closely you'll see the twinkle of a faerie in the wisteria vine. She must be the one who left the door of the bunny run open...alas, the door will not shut because the vine has become so thick and has blocked the way, but don't tell hubby! If he sees the door stuck open he'll want to trim back my beloved wisteria and I've seen what he and a pair of pruning shears can do. Trust me! You don't want to know :0!

Ah look! WEEDS!! They grow in the cracks of the cement in the back yard. Hubby is always threatening to cut them down...HE'S A PLANT KILLER!!!



More weeds! These grow right in the middle of where I plan to lay a brick path, but each year the Hollyhock come back and I don't have the heart to pull them out. So pathless we remain.
They're just so beautiful and bloom happily while neglected severly, but best of all are the giant fuzzy bumblebees that buzz from one flower to the next with yellow pollen trailing from their bumblebee feet. Did you know that bees legs have something similar to grocey bags attached to them? That's how they carry their pollen from flower to hive. I learned that at the Bee museum in Quebec when we visited several years ago. Hey, maybe that's where the idea of Cargo Pants came from...do you think? I don't know, it sounds good to me!

I hope you enjoyed a wee little glimpse into my vineyard and who knows, maybe there will be more :).
Until next time...have a lovely day!

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

ACT 4: 5-12

For more ABC's of the Word click over to Pam's blog Grey Like Snuffie and help us stir up God's Word in our (your) Hearts.

Hello! HeLLo! I've been so busy with this and that and haven't had time to check in with you all, but I've missed visiting each of you!
My excuse? Just life, or something like it. I've been so busy with work and the daily ins and outs of running my little cottage that I haven't had time to stop and smell the roses, or the wisteria, or the Jasmin that mysteriously crept up the back side of the bunny run. I used to keep bunnies, did you know that? They are without a doubt the most darling of creatures plus they make my heart sing. I once had a bunn named Mr. Lumpkin, but he was such a regal little fellow that he ended up with the title of "Sir Thadeus Lumpkin the First-the Duke of the Kingdom of Ro'dent." I also had a wacky room mate who happened to be a kindergarten teacher who one day asked if I could bring Mr. Lumpkin for show and tell. "Sure, why not!" After all, he was a very popular little bunn. When the day arrived she introduced him as the Velveteen Rabbit come to life and I could never walk onto the campus without three or four little kids screaming at the top of their lungs, "LOOK!!!! It's Mister Lumpkins mom!!!...The Velveteen Rabbits mom!!!! Hi Misses Lumpkin." He became a huge celebrity...thankfully it never went to his head!



You should see how pretty the vineyard is! The grapes are plumping up beautifully and I'm hoping this year they'll be super sweet, not like two years ago when I was experimenting with my old coffee grinds. I figured they worked great for roses so why not grapes? The fruit was so bitter and nasty that not even the birds or possums would eat them...in fact I thought about ripping the entire vine down, but then decided to leave it as it provides the only shade in my backyard plus I didn't have the heart to destroy it, not when it continued to stretch and grow and wrap it's little tendrils about the arch that it clings to. Passing beneath it feels like passing from my yard into a magical kingdom where anything could happen. There is however, some sort of weird mystery bug that spits on me everytime I sit in the adirondacks. I've searched and searched, but have never figured out what it is. Spitting bugs in the vineyard...sounds enchanting don't you think?

Just like our little birdhouse, Brambleberry Cottage is in need of a new roof. When I first moved here every morning I awoke to the rudest banging noise coming from the roof top. It was the crows! Ripping and tearing then throwing our shingles over the side of the house only to cackle at me as I tried to shew them away with whatever I could find to toss at them. They always seemed to be mocking me, but I became used to them and they to me...now we just ignore each other and go about our merry ways.

Well here's a curious thing...a petticoat swinging in the breeze. Hubby and I were on our way to Mimi's for breakfast and one of the neighbor's was having a yard sale so hubby decided to drive by real slow to see if there was anything interesting. As we passed by I spied this little petticoat hanging from the garage door. "Go back!!! I need that petticoat!!!" You see, mademoiselle has been begging for a petticoat and since she has no legs or pocket book the task fell to me to find the perfect fluffy little article of clothing. When I walked up to it my heart sank for I thought the price tag said $50, but then I noticed it was just 50 cents. I was so thrilled that I gave the neighbor 1 dollar and mademoiselle has been happy ever since. I'm hoping this will keep her out of my closet :0!

There she is with her lovely new petticoat.
Oops! I cut the bottom half of the picture off.

Here's Mademoiselle's bedroom. She does not know it, but her suite is about to get a make over. This poor little room has been affectionately labeled, "The Black Hole." If something doesn't have a home it ends up in the black hole. If laundry hasn't been folded it ends up in the black hole. Let's face it! Everything ends up in the black hole and somethings are never found, but all that's about to change. Next week I'm ripping out the carpet, refinishing the floor, painting, and hubby has the fun job of transforming my closet into a craft station. I think it's going to take about two weeks, but after 14 years of waiting it will be well worth it!

Oh! Here's my little ladies chair that has gone on to live with my sweet twin, Fiffer Lou. This was one of my first attemps at upholstery and while I loved the chair the scale of it was too large for the rest of my furniture...so sad, but what a happy day for Fiffer Lou!

Well, it's 9:15 pm. Past my bedtime so I think I better be going for now, but hopefully I'll be able to catch up with everyone over the next few days.
I hope you have a lovely evening!

All work and no play
makes Cori an extremely boring girl.
And let's not forget about tired!

I'm still here somewhere in this little world of mine...
hope you're all doing fine!

Image: Frederic, Lord Leighton

(1830-1896)

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss
at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.
~Honoré de Balzac

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:37

J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918) told this story: "A farmer allowed his old, worn-out, blind horse to wander about the premises with all freedom. One night the old horse fell into an abandoned well. It was decided that, since the well was useless and the horse was useless, it would be convenient to fill the well and bury the horse with the same operation. But the earth that was shoveled in to cover up the horse made a good foundation for his feet, and he kept on top of it all the time. When the well was filled to the level of the ground, the old horse walked away to graze on the meadow."
This is a parable representing the effect of opposition upon the Christian. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

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

The sun was setting beyond the sea.
Casting shadows over my Faerie Ring.
I gazed out my window and all I could see
was a bed of roses clothed in red and pink...

then suddenly the flowers began to sing,
each little bud in my Faerie Ring.
So sweetly their anthem flowed from within
and ever so gently did it end.
For each one was raising her head to the sky
looking for Faeries as they fluttered by.
Singing and calling and wooing them home
for far afield the faeries will roam.

When the sun gently sets in the western sky
it's time for the faeries to awake and fly.
Over grasslands and yonder streams
while most of us sleep with our peaceful dreams.

My bloggy friend "Darling Deb" (I gave her that name because I love her so!) aka Deborah of Midlife Poet awarded me this sweet award... don't you just love the illustration?
I met Deborah several months ago and we became instant friends. She's sassy, she's sweet, and she's immature (like me) :0! Oh! She said those word's herself! Check out her post, it's super cute just like her! Kindred spirits you could say, so I consider this award to be very special indeed. Thank you Darling Deb from the depths of my heart.

This fabulous award highlights wonderful blog writing. The Renee Award is one of the most meaningful awards in blog world because it honors someone who is incredibly inspirational in her intelligent and witty writing. And by doing so, this award celebrates women’s smart, strong and inspirational spirit! It honors women who spread joy and love like an Acorn……a small package growing into a tall and sturdy oak tree which gives more acorns…………..

I have a special blog that I love to visit when I need to be encouraged, challenged, or just want to feel as if I've stepped into a beautiful story of grace and mercy. So I'm passing the Renee Award on to Andrea at A Parson's Wife who is always such an inspiration to me as well as others.
And to these two ladies Deborah and Andrea, I'm blessed to call you friends... thank you for being mine!

Happy Birthday Sis!

Today is my big sister's Birthday....Happy Birthday Robinski!!!
Of course her name is not really Robinski, but Robin.
She's the one on the left and I'm on the right and that's our grandma Justus in the background.
I couldn't tell you how old she is, but then I can't remember my age either ;0!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!
ME

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
JOHN 14: 1-5

Good morning Ladies,

As a little girl and young woman I read design magazines instead of magazines like Cosmo because my mother forbid them saying they were anti-marriage, anti-woman, and not something a proper lady should waste her time or money on. So design magazines it was.
When I first began blogging one of my favorite things to do was to see the insides of other women's houses and how they decorated them. As I continued to read my own home began to pale in my eyes and I started longing to have "What she had." But then one day I remembered that life is not about having the perfect home and accessories, but about living our lives for the Lord and sharing His love with those around us and preparing us for our eternal home with Him. After all, He said He goes to prepare a place for us.
Do you believe they are literal mansions or that He's just speaking figuratively?
I believe they're literal and am hoping mine has floors made of Rubies.

I hope you all have a lovely day filled with wonderful thoughts of Him.

If you would like to join us for more of the ABC's of the Word stop by and visit Pam @ Grey Like Snuffie and help us stir up God's Word in our hearts.

Patience Waits

Patience is like the petals of a rose unfolding.
It is silent.
It does not complain about its own slowness
nor chide another for his.
It is able to wait,
for it knows that time is as important as speed.
It knows that there is often much speed in the Spirit
while there is slowness in the flesh.
It knows there is a divine clock that has wings
where mans clock has hands.
It is aware of God's perfect timing
even though it cannot tell the hour.
It penetrated the wall of silence
and has faith that God is indeed working
even though it does not hear the chiming of the passing hours.
Yes, Patience is another child of love;
for it is Love that waits,
knowing all is well and all WILL be well,
because God loves and cares.
Patience can wait
because Patience knows that God is Love,
and love is timeless,
and love is loving while patience is waiting.

Taken from the book:
"Make Haste My Beloved" by Frances J. Roberts

The Way Cool Cafe

On the way home from Prescott we decided to take the road that I used to travel every weekend for two years. Partly out of curiosity and partly so I could say, "I told you my way was faster." Hubby and I always engage in friendly little wagers while traveling down the highways of life and
I usually win...ha! ha!

We pulled into a small town and I saw this cute little shop with all the fun signage. Just then hubby exclaims, "did you see that place? Let's turn around and get something to drink." I'm thinking to myself that after 14 1/2 years of marriage hubby is finally figuring out where I like to stop. He pulls into the driveway between this darling shop and an old beat up derelict store, gets out of the truck and heads in the direction of, you guessed it, the derelict store. Can you imagine my horror at the thought of missing out on this little gem of an establishment plopped in the middle of now where? Let me tell you, I was horrified!!! What was even more horrifying is that it was closed.

Doesn't this little red door look inviting? Who wouldn't want to pass through it to see what wonders wait on the other side?

And the enchanting stone wall with all the creeping vines and painted window awning. How I longed to peak into the narrow window and glimpse what lay beyond.

Or to relax in the shade on a hot summer day while sipping iced cappuccino and conversing with the store owners...two unforgettable women!

With the darling signs outside I could only wonder at the signs that were hidden from view.

Except for that dreadful sign that deprived me of this fun little diversion on an otherwise drab stretch of highway...
CLOSED resonated in my ears.

And were it not for the fact that we traveled this highway on the wrong day I could have met these two unforgettable women for myself. Who knows, we may have become life long friends. They did have an Airstream in the backyard...something I've been dreaming about for a few years.
So the next time we head back up to Prescott we'll take this road, but not on a Sunday.
And in case you're wondering if my way was quicker, it was, by about an hour and the little town this cafe was in is called Wendon, which is just beyond Hope. No really! The next town is named Hope Arizona and as you're leaving town there's a sign that reads, "You are now beyond Hope." We thought it was pretty clever and funny all at the same time :).