Scenes from the Country - No. 23

Hi Everyone,

Don't you just love long summer days? This was my sunset on the first day of summer.

It's hard to believe that we've already experienced the longest day of this year and each day will begin to shorten from here forward. I'm resisting the urge to be saddened by this truth and choosing to appreciate and enjoy the blessings held in this day.

Let's ask God to gift us with ears that hear and eyes that see His blessings surrounding us today!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
"Ears to hear and eyes to see- both are gifts from the Lord." Proverbs 20:12

Enjoy!
Elaine

How About An Adventure?

Good morning!

How would you like to go on an adventure today?

Levi gave me this heart rock he found at the Sand Dunes Great National Park in Colorado this summer. That's him and Poppy walking in the distance. It was a great adventure.

I so love adventures!  I love to discover things; to find things. I know that's why I love junking and rummaging through tag sales. It's the thrill of the hunt and the reward of the find. I've heard My Mark say many times, "Don't wander off too far" and it's usually when we're pulled over on the side of the road so he can check something under the hood. I can't help myself. I love to explore. I have this knowing that me being in a certain spot, at a certain moment isn't by chance or random, and that God has a little treasure for me if I will just look for it.

I love it when it involves a heart shaped rock.

Just a few of my treasured moments.

God loves you and he has little tokens of His love strewn all along the path for your today.
To find them, you just have to be looking.

Maybe rocks are not your thing. Maybe it's the sound of a bird singing, or the wind blowing. It
could be a smile from a stranger, or a kind word from a friend. Who knows? Only you and God.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

Search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him. Deuteronomy 4:29
  
I love that this says to search again. You may not be anywhere near Him at this moment, but He's only a look away!

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

A heart rock Andy gave to me on Mother's Day. I look at it every day.

Never Judge a Gift by It's Package

Recently I noticed a cocoon attached to the wall next to the side door where we walk in and out everyday. It was a pretty scary looking creature with spikes all over and it was wiggling. It definitely looked dangerous! I hate to say it, but my first response was to get rid of it. Living at the woods edge and surrounded by pastureland, it's a constant battle to keep the "undesirables" out of my house, so I don't tend to be very compassionate when it comes to creepy crawlers, but I was intrigued by this one and decided to watch it for a few days and see what was going to come out of it.

Over the next few days, it stopped moving and actually got scarier looking and then it happened. Early one morning I found a beautiful butterfly that had just emerged and was sunning itself in those first rays of sunshine.

I was shocked to see that it looked just like a fall leaf. A butterfly that looks like a rusty fall leaf! And hatches in the fall! What an amazing act of God! I continued to watch as it took its first steps and eventually flew off into the world.

This experience was a lovely gift from God to me. Besides being a reminder that He is the creative Creator and the One who gives life, He also taught me a lesson: Just because something initially looks frightening or dangerous, doesn't mean that it is. Sometimes beautiful things come in scary  looking packages.

I believe that God surrounds us with good gifts every day that express His love to us. They are always there. We just have to look.

Here's a Heart Rock (or 2) for your Pocket:

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father...
James 1:17

If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. Jeremiah 29:13

Wishing you Joy,
Elaine

I did some research and found that this butterfly is called a "Question Mark" butterfly because of the white markings on the wing. "?" It lays its eggs in Elm trees, which I have outside my back door, and it has the absolute scariest caterpillar...ever. It's a good thing I didn't find it first.

Scenes from the Country - No. 22

Look at these sweet babies!

On my way out to the mailbox, I heard the familiar cry of baby birds and began looking for their nest in the tree above me. I was surprised to find they had already left the nest and were snuggled together on a limb a few feet above my head.

Although they were out of the nest, they were still squawking for their next meal and their mom was working herself silly trying to keep them all fed.

She frantically flew back and forth searching the yard for bugs and each time, as she approached the kiddos, they got louder and louder and their heads would spin in unison following her every move. They fought and competed to be the chosen one when she returned with her goodies.

I watched as she stuffed a big colorful butterfly into one of their mouths. It only took a split second.
Amazing!

Glory to God!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket: 
The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 
2 Corinthians 3:17

Wishing you JOY!
Elaine

Join me over at:
The Dedicated House

Double Yolks!

There's something special about raising your own chickens and having fresh eggs, so when my dad offered me a few of his older hens to make room for his new flock I jumped at the chance.

Levi came during his spring break and he and I made the necessary repairs to our abandoned chicken house so we could welcome the "Ladies" to their new home. They are all settled in now and laying, so everyday I get to collect beautiful brown eggs.

This week I got a "big" surprise... a double yolk!

Look at the size of this egg!

How to Dress Up a Nest to Become a Centerpiece

Spring is almost here... officially!


I went to our local flea market earlier this month and saw the prettiest wreaths that were all dressed up for Spring. They were referring to them as Botanical wreaths because they were covered with dried flowers, twigs and bird nests! 


So, with inspiration in mind, I set out to make my own creation. I am reusing my Easter wreath from last year, so I really didn't need a new one, but decided to use that same concept in a Spring centerpiece for the table in the sunroom.

A Little Something Lovely - No. 12

Here's a little something to brighten your day!

Decorating with Spring Flowers

The miracle of Spring is emerging and I love it!

There is something so thrilling about the first warm days following a long, dark, dreary winter. It's a feeling of hope, of new life, of new beginnings. It's just as God planned it.

10 Minute Valentine Garland

Hi Everyone!

It's been two years since I posted my first blog entry on Valentines Day 2014, so it's my blogging anniversary! When I posted that first entry, I wasn't sure if anyone would ever follow along, but so many of you have and it's been great getting to know you.

Thanks so very much!!

You are all very important to me!!

To celebrate, I have a special discount offer available,  just for my blog friends, at my Etsy shop. I'll give you the details at the end of today's post, but first let's take a look at this quick Valentine project. It will fill your house with notions of  "LOVE!"

A Little Something Lovely - No. 11

God has no confinements.
God has no limits.
God has no boundaries.
God has no weakness.
Nothing is too hard for God.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

"O Lord God! You have made the heavens and earth by your great power:
NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR YOU!" Jeremiah 32:17

Wishing you JOY today!
Elaine

Vintage Aprons

Hi There!

Wearing an apron, especially an old apron, always connects me with the past in a strange way. I have memories of my mom and grandmothers, as far back as great-grandmothers, in the kitchen preparing meals, making snacks, washing dishes and hanging clothes on the line, all with an apron tied around their waste. So when I wear one, I feel like one of them and I like that.

I was given several as gifts when I first got married and have collected more through the years. The old ones are always handmade and have their own personalities, reflecting those who created them. 

God Gave Me A Donkey

Hello My Bloggy Friends,

I have always driven my family crazy taking pictures. I admit I can be a little obsessive.
For some reason, I feel the need to capture the moment so I can re-live it. Maybe I'm afraid I'll forget.
God has impressed upon me several times that by trying to capture the moment, I end up missing it, so I'm learning to just enjoy.

But, with all of that said, this picture represents why I love photography. It's a memory.  I'm sure I would have forgotten this day if it hadn't been captured by someone.

This is me and my two sisters back in the early 70's, with a baby donkey that was born on our little farm.

JOY

Ever read something and you know you've read it hundreds of times before, but for some reason this time it registers differently?

Vintage Christmas Cards

Merry Christmas!

Last summer I found the greatest collection of vintage Christmas cards, each with a handwritten note and real signatures.

The images and fonts immediately pulled me to a time before cell phones, e-mail, texting and Facebook; a time when communication was intentional and took thought and effort, although we didn't realize it.

Don't get me wrong, I love keeping up with everyone through social media, but it doesn't require much effort or interaction on my part. It's more of an observation of others, rather than an interaction with others.

I'm making an early New Year's Resolution to be more deliberate in my communication with family and friends. Anyone want to join me?

I hope you enjoy these Christmas wishes from the past...

Scenes from the Country - No. 21

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Ours started early and ended late and was the best ever! It was simple and full of family. Perfect.

This picture was taken earlier in the month while visiting Mark's parents in Colorado.

A blustery... snowy... silent... walk... alone... not something that a Texas girl gets to do very often and, boy, did I soak it up!

Now, it's time to decorate for Christmas!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Treasure Hunt

My dad called one morning this week and said, "Hey Girl, wanna go on an adventure?"
Well, with him, that could be a loaded question leading in all directions.
My response was, "Maybe. What kind of adventure are we talking about?"
"A treasure hunt!"

Vintage Crowns & Jewels!

What little girl didn't dream of being a princess or the queen herself? Be honest. These vintage crowns and jewels will make you want to play dress up, now, regardless of your age.

Scene's from the Country - No. 20

Earlier this week, as I was reading, I found the scripture below and instantly thought about my friend BAM, who loves clouds. I had intended all day to send her a note and share it with her. Well, you know how days go, I got wrapped up in my "to do" list and it slipped my mind. Later that evening as I was driving home from running a few errands, this is what I encountered! Amazing, huh?! God's plans are so much better (and bigger) than mine!! Glory to God!

Look for God all around you. He is there!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:8 NLT

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

Just a note: The photo is unfiltered and Building 429 has a great song, "We Won't Be Shaken", you should check it out!

The Treasures of Estate Sales

Aside from all the great treasures (vintage stuff) that can be found at an estate sale, I love peering into the lives of other people (the real treasures), especially the older generations, because they tended to keep everything which provides glimpses of what their lives were like. I recently visited a sale in a neighboring town that was full of treasures. Here are a few of things that caught my eye.

This little tea pot had been broken several times and glued back together. There was an old piece of tape on the bottom with a handwritten note that read, "Mother gave this to me the day I got married. She earned it selling Avon." How precious!

Mini Pumpkin Topiaries

A few days ago I shared my trip to the produce stand and here's what became of the mini pumpkins I brought home.