Be careful that you are following Me, and I will care for all else.

Striving is for those who have not yet learned to trust Me.

Anxiety is the affliction of the self-possessed.

The godly know their heritage and revel 

in the protection of their Redeemer.

For it is in the blood of Jesus

that refuge is found

for every onslaught

of the enemy.

From "Make Haste My Beloved"

Author: Frances J. Roberts

Confession of a Helpless Dreamer

Sometimes when the weather is as hot as it's been I like to imagine that I'm out kayaking in the Back Bay or floating down a peaceful river watching the shore line drift slowly by. In reality I don't even own a kayak, nor have I ever been, but I would like to some day.
So I am so sorry to have led you all astray, but wasn't it fun dreaming about the adventure? I know I enjoyed it!
Oh! By the way, the pictures are all props from Disney's California Adventure. Yes, the lovely little abandoned structure is too and I still think it would make a quaint little cafe.

PS
In case you didn't notice my deceptive post was titled, "Wishful Thinking." What can I say, " I am a helpless dreamer."  Well, I think I'm going to head over to that little river of mine before it gets too hot. California Adventure I mean...tee hee!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and try to stay out of the heat ;-).

xoxo Cori

Wishful Thinking!

Just when I thought Autumn had arrived the weather decided to revolt on us so hubby and I decided to take advantage of the heat. We loaded the kayaks in the old truck and headed for the nearest stream of cool refreshing water.

We headed down the highway and through the hills until we reached this old building right at the rivers edge. It's such a peaceful place. I've always thought it would make a quaint little restaurant out in the middle of nowhere, but who would stop to eat?

We finally arrived at our destination, put the kayaks in, and headed down the river. I know it doesn't look like much of a river, but when you're desperate any old stream will do ;-).

What have you been doing to stay out of the heat?

Love is the power that has drawn us as sinners to God, that has melted the hardness of our hearts, and that now constrains us to live for Him. Love is the sphere of the Christians activity. "God is love; and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him." We are called to be followers, imitators of God. Therefore we have to "walk in love."

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

Here, There, but really No Where

That's been my life lately, here, there, but really no where at all. I am still playing in this little room of mine and it's become my favorite little nook in my cottage. There are so many girly things to play with and much that distracts my mind from house work...oi...the never ending battle!

While my head was in the clouds the wisteria tried creeping in the cottage. It had grown so far under the eves that we couldn't get the screen door open and the poor mail man... I hate to think what went on in his mind as he walked the path to deliver the mail. The mail box kept mysteriously moving closer and closer to the edge of the porch. Was that the mail man or the vine moving it from place to place? We will never know.

I went to Disney yesterday after work to wander the streets of New Orleans Square and get lost in a sea of humanity. It's a great place to walk and clear your head from all the craziness of the work day and yesterday was definitely a crazy day.
I started my day by printing off 100 sheets of the wrong flier...oops! How much ink did I just waste, not to mention the paper ;-O. The next thing that happened was I found out it was my job to re-write the text for our new website...huh!...I thought that was the web designers job. But the icing on the cake was when I was called into the counseling room at 4:00 pm...I thought I left work everyday at 4:00 pm! Well, yesterday I left at 4:45 and one of my co-workers was gracious enough to stay behind until I was done. She has a true servants heart and I'm so thankful to have her in my life. She is what makes working there such a blessing.
So, before I go off on a tirade lets go back to Disneyland and some lovely happy thoughts, shall we?

I just adore the window displays along Main Street USA! And Autumn has most definitely arrived. All the windows are draped in Autumn colors and vintage ephemera. Even the trees are changing their bright greens to subtle browns as the weather cools and the days become shorter. This is my favorite time of year!!

This morning one of my friends and I are headed to the hospital to spring one of our other friends. She has just been diagnosed with cancer and will be released this morning only to return on Wednesday for surgery. She has so many other medical issues, on top of the cancer, that it's a miracle she found a doctor who is willing to treat her.

Another dear friend is going in today for a lumpectomy and this is the second time cancer has been found in her. So if you have some time could you please pray for my friends, I know they would both appreciate it. They are both safe in the arms of Jesus, but the future that we can't see can be a bit frightening at times.

Well, I must be on my way. I still need to do a few things before I'm ready to start my day.
I hope you all have a GREAT Friday!!!!

Today the Sign gave me a good Chuckle!

Thank you Sign...
I needed that!

This week has been a busy week filled with a many bloggy surprises...all of them fun!!!!!
My sweet friend Moorea of Homeschooling Sentiments recently attended a shower for her future SIL and each guest was given a copy of a book titled, "Created to be his Help Meet." Now ladies, let's not behave as if we have bees in our bonnets, isn't this exactly why we the female species was created, to help men be more complete and whole? We balance them out, provide tenderness for their rough and tumbly exteriors, and cradle their hearts when they become wounded.
So anywho, in honor of her new SIL Jen, she (Moorea) had a book give-away and I won the book as well as a beautiful bookmark with a crown and crystals. I'm really excited to start reading it (sorry Moorea, I haven't started yet ;-O) to see what it has to say and hopefully it will give me some perspective on being a better wife. I think most of us could agree that a little work in that area can always be a good thing, right? Of course right! I'm glad you agree.
Moorea, thanks for drawing my name and picking me...I'm ever so delighted!!!


I was also nominated for an award this week from the talented Dee over at Runako Designs and the Academy, but I asked NOT to give an acceptance speech since I always become tongue tied and look so foolish plus I might trip down the stairs leaving the platform. But I would like to thank Dee for nominating me for this exciting award, the Academy for being such a source of inspiration and support, and my wonderful friends and family. Oh, I guess I gave a speech after all ;-).

THANK YOU DEE!!!!!

Now for the rules:

I must pass this award on to fellow bloggers who I think are Fabulous!!!! If you have been nominated for this award, you must pay it forward! You must post an acceptance speech on your blog (feel free to thank the academy!) and then nominate as many other blogs as you wish, and, if you have been nominated, feel free to post the above award proudly on your blog!

I am going to nominate the following Fabulous bloggers:

Deborah (Darling Deb) of Midlife Poet
Rhonda (Rooty toot Rooty Roo) of Roo's Treehouse
and Sandra (Sandra, I don't have a nickname for you, I'm going to have to think one up ;-))
of Romantique Inspirations

You are all Fabulous!!!
Thank you Dee and the Academy!!!

PS: A word on awards!
Recently one of my darling bloggy buddies gave me an award and asked if I was accepting them since mine all vanished from my blog. The answer was yes, but my page was loading ever so slowly that I decided to remove them as well as other accoutrements in my sidebar.
But every time I receive an award I'm so touched that you have thought about me and my little blog and I'm reminded that there are so many wonderful women out there that I never would have met had I not fallen into this wonderful world called Bloglandia.
Thank you so much sweet ladies, for enriching my life.

xoxo Cori

The Fabric of Happiness

"The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is the strength of my life" (from Psalm 27:1)

Failure to respond to My love causes depression of spirit. No soul is strong enough to survive the struggles of life triumphantly without divine aid. It is My strength imparted to the weak which causes him to rise up and walk in strength. It is My joy filling the broken heart that gives a song to displace mourning.

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

Image: John Waterhouse

Life has been busy here at Brambleberry Cottage
and I'm feeling a bit like Bilbo Baggins when he uttered the words,
"I feel, thin. Sort of stretched, like butter
scraped over too much bread.
I need a holiday."
And so like Bilbo, I've decided to take a holiday...
a holiday away from my blog.
Summer is almost at an end
and Autumn will soon being.

My garden has been much neglected of late
and it's calling me away
to mend its soil, to prune my roses,
and DESTROY the weeds that have over run
my beloved flowers.

So I hope you'll enjoy what is left
of the lazy days of Summer
and I'll see you soon.

adieu pour maintenant

I'm having problems with Blogger!
Is anyone else having trouble viewing things
or finding their followers list?

Hey Sandra, This is for you!

Hey Sandra,
This is for you!
I know my pictures are pretty fuzzy,
but I had to take a picture of a picture
since my lovely scanner went kopute!
How do you spell that?

Anywho, this was my little June E. Bug
taking a bath in the Kern river.
Her watchful friend was affectionately called Scummy
who never let Junie out of her sight.
Sunny was the strangest dog who spent much of her time
trying to nurse the baby birds.

This picture was taken right after her bath.
Doesn't she look so content sitting there on my hand?
When I found my little "bugaboo" she had just been snatched
from her nest by a big nasty crow and was being carried away.
No doubt the crow thought she would make an excellent lunch,
but luckily I just happened to be playing ball with Scummy.
It's a long story, but it involves a tennis ball
and a long drop out of the sky.

My little Junie lived in a basket, and once she
was older she played pretty well with the
other birds.
She enjoyed undoing my puzzles,
taking naps curled up on my neck,
and eating Coco Puffs.
She was the silliest little thing
who stole my heart and then shattered it
in pieces the day she flew away.

There are so many tales I could tell you
about this sweet little creature,
but they will have to wait for another day.
One day we'll be able to share our little birdie tales
face to face any maybe, just maybe they'll be there
to tell us a tale or two ;-).

Come oh come! let us away-
Lower, lower every day,
oh, what joy it is to race
Down to find the lowest place.

This the dearest law we know-

“it is happy to go low.”

Sweetest urge and sweetest will,

“Let us go down lower still.”

Hear the summons night and day

calling us to come away.

From the heights we leap and flow

to the valleys down below.

Always answering to the call.

To the lowest place of all.

Sweetest urge and sweetest pain.

To go low and rise again.

Hannah Hurnard

Hinds Feet on High Places

Am I my brother's Keeper?

How many are the sufferers who have fallen amongst misfortunes along the wayside of life! "By chance" we come that way; chance, accident, Providence, has thrown them in our way; we see them from a distance, like the priest, or we come upon them suddenly, like the Levite; our business, our pleasure is interrupted by the sight, is troubled by the delay; what are our feelings, what are our actions toward them? "Who is thy neighbor?" It is the sufferer, wherever, whoever, whatsoever he be. Wherever you hear the cry of distress, wherever you see anyone brought across your path by the chances and changes of life (that is, by the Providence of God), whom it is in your power to help--he (she), stranger or enemy though he be--he (she) is your neighbor.

A.P. Stanley (1815-1882)


Luke: 25-37

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Fare thee well my Dinghy Friend!

 

Fare thee well my Dinghy Friend,

our summer adventures never did begin.

The dreams I had for all of us

turned out to be a bit too much!

Of summer days spent on the sea

I truly wished that’s where we’d be.

But alas, my little Dinghy friend,

your hull was damaged,

we could not mend.

So off you went to another’s home,

I wonder if you’ll ever reach

the sand and the foam.

My Ugly Secret!

When I was just a little girl every time I tried something new my mother always said, “Put your best foot forward dear.”

 I never quite knew what that meant, but I think I finally understand. Here in Bloglandia we like to show our friends all the beautiful things we’ve created or purchased for our homes……

But what we don’t like to show is the ugly sides of our dwellings. So I’ve decided to expose some of mine, just in case you were under the impression that  Brambleberry Cottage is a slice of perfection in a cottage…hee hee!   

 

 These are all pictures from my kitchen. Lovely don’t you think? I used to enjoy looking out the window while doing dishes, but the view has been blocked by the ugly air-conditioner. Would you check out that super retro flooring? It’s from the 70’s and I think it’s coming back in style.

The hot water heater’s a nice touch, don’t you think? If you’re not careful it might grab you as you come in the back door.

You’ve gotta love the cupboards with the hardware that looks like,…well, giant bugs…EEEEEKKKKK!!!!!

Oh, I’m trying to finish my drapes for my craft room. That’s the fabric laid out on the table and while I’m in the middle of one project nothing else gets done. Trying to keep things clean just gets in the way of completion, but I do have to do my dishes and it’s getting late so I better run.

I hope you enjoyed one of Brambleberry’s ugly secrets. Who knows, maybe I’ll show you more. Oh Yes! There are many more!!!!

 

A person with a well-kept heart is prepared for and capable of responding to the situations of life in ways that are good and right!

“Renovation of the Heart” by:

Dallas Willard

Just Playing Around!

I have this new program that my Darling friend Deb of Midlife Poet told me about and I’m just trying to figure out how to play with it. I’m one of those girls who NEVER reads instructions because it’s just NOT very fun and if it’s not fun I don’t want to do it! Oh No! What does that reveal about me?

OH YEAH! This is fun!!!!!

So, Deb and I have been emailing fonts back and forth to each other...kinda, I did stop for a milk shake break, but anyway, this is one of my Favorite fun fonts, but I’m not going to tell you the name of it unless you email me…tee hee! I used it once for a tea party invitation and all my co-workers made me change the exclamation point because they said it looked like a nose. It does sort of resemble a nose, but I still think it’s kinda cute.…Ooh, the spell check even works. This is a lot of FUN!!!

OK! Back to work, or maybe I’ll just go searching for more fonts.

No longer do I call you servants...but I have called you friends.

John 15:15

Great friendships are possible only to great souls. Most of us have business associates, casual acquaintances, and occasional companions. Real friends on the other hand, are not so easy to acquire. Friendships rest upon more than accidental relationships or even association in a common task. Its roots lie in the spiritual realm. Friends must meet each other at the deeper levels of living. Only an infinity rooted in common ideas and outlook can survive the inevitable misunderstandings and petty frustrations that are part of the fabric of everyday existence. Robert South (1634-1716) put it this way: "A true friend is the gift of God, and He only who made hearts can unite them."

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

Thankfully the weather here has started to cool down and we've been experiencing the most lovely overcast mornings with cool breezes. There for awhile, even poor Tallulah needed to wear her sunglasses since the maid who dwells beneath the eaves of Brambleberry Cottage hasn't sewn her drapes yet, but today may be the day! In fact, I just stepped away from this post to bring my work table in and while moving the kitchen island we discovered the islands wheels need shimming up...another project for another day.

Yesterday while my Internet was down I had hubby cut my rod then I hung the table cloth-turned drape in the closet...what do you think? I like how it separates the two spaces and hides some of the clutter behind the mirror. Oh yeah, things have collected back there too. It's a great place to hide all those ugly objects like black out fabric, cutting mats, and power cords. Doesn't it make you nuts having exposed cords all over your cottage? I know it does me, which is why I hide them at all cost!

So, I've decided to go off on one of my little rabbit trails. I was over at Vanessa's twitter page a few minutes ago and she twittered about Gypsy Wagons...something I've been dreaming about since FOREVER!!! My own little Gypsy Wagon. The first time I saw one was about 6 years ago while hubby and I were at a Renaissance Faire in Northern California, so much fun by the way!!! We've been looking for a vintage trailer for almost 3 years, but they're either too old, too far away, or too much money so this may be the perfect solution. Hubby can build me my very own gypsy wagon. He is after all a master craftsman! He can build anything! I mentioned to him that there are workshops he could take to build "said wagon" and he says, "PLEASE!!!! Do you think I need to take a class on building anything?" "Oops! Sorry!" was my reply. The only thing he needs help with is trying to interpret my brain and the ideas I come up with. I'm not saying he doesn't understand me, what I'm saying is that I have poor communication skills. I say things like, "honey, can you build me one of those thingy's?" and he says, "what thingy?" and I say, "you know, one of those thingy's I've been wanting. I told you about it a year ago." Then he has to try digging in my head to pull out all the details. I'm guilty of designing things as I go without any plans written down. It must be so frustrating for dear hubby, but he always manages to bring my dreams to reality.

Rabbit trail complete, now back to reality.

This poor little birdie tassel has been moved from place to place in my little cottage, but I think it's finally found a home. I used it to tie back my table cloth-turned drape and I think it will stay there. Too bad it doesn't chirp while I'm playing on my computer ;-).

Ah well, I have much to accomplish this weekend and hubby just took off on his Harley so now is the perfect time to begin my sewing project. Let's see how much I can get done before he gets home. Later today we'll be riding our bikes to a small cafe for dining alfresco.

Happy Saturday everyone!!!!

xoxo Cori