Scenes from the Country - No. 10

I had never actually seen olive trees before our trip to California this summer. They are beautiful. I picked up some seeds from beneath the trees in hopes that I can grow them in East Texas. Our local vineyards thrive here, so maybe olives will too!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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Chicken Coop Coffee Table

I have a history with chicken coops. My first stove was a chicken coop! It had Coke bottle cap knobs and the top burners were drawn on with crayons. It was where I baked my Pokeberry mud pies out by the barn under the shade of a big Pine tree. I can remember my Mom saying as she nailed the Coke caps to the front of the coop, "Sometimes you just have to make your own fun!" It was hot summertime and I'm sure she had heard us say, one too many times, that we were bored. I've repeated that statement to my son and grandson. It is a life lesson that I'm passing on.

A chicken coop, for those who may not be familiar with it, was a wooden box used to transport chickens. The top has a spring loaded trap door (that's where the mud pies go in). When I found this coop in Mena, Arkansas, I was excited. I've seen them through the years, but they are usually in really bad shape. This one was still intact so I snatched it up, not sure what I was going to do with it, but I wanted it.

It has Bright Coop Co, Nacogdoches, Texas stenciled on both sides. 

On a trip to Ikea, I spied this coffee table and took a chance that the coop would fit inside and it did!

 The glass top table creates a great display and it is very functional.

One of these days, I may put my egg baskets that are shaped like chickens inside. Won't that be fun!

Sometimes you just have to make your own fun!!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
Jesus said, “I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from the wise and educated. But you have shown them to little children. Matthew 11:25

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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Scenes from the Country - No. 9

I recently went to spend the night with my son and grandson in Louisiana, which is about a two and a half hour drive from my house. They live on Lake Bisteneau, which is very swampy! We went for a walk late in the evening as the sun was getting low and, as always, I was snapping pictures. Once I got home and loaded them, I had this one that was very unusual. The sun rays shooting through the moss laden cypress trees were colorful, like rainbows. I took several photos from this one location and this is the only one that turned out this way. When I saw it, this scripture immediately went through my mind. Pretty awesome!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, ho does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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A Little Bit of Halloween

Trick-or-Treating was never a part of my childhood. We lived a long way from town and didn't have next door neighbors. It just didn't happen, but we would carve a pumpkin, have a big bowl of candy and watch It's a Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. As we grew older, we would go for a hayride and build a bonfire . Now that we're not kids anymore (and our kids are not kids anymore) we still have a tradition of gathering in the fall, carving pumpkins, cooking a big pot of chili, sitting around a fire and going for a hayride. You should see us! Even my 80+ year old grandpa goes with us. I hope I never outgrow acting like a kid!

I've added a little bit of Halloween to my fall decor just to keep things fun!

Little white pumpkins under glass and a Scrabble "Boo!"...

...and a "Full Moon" too.

 I found these charming little pumpkins at an estate sale...

...and recently picked up this tray with a handsome wooden inlaid owl. My dollar find turned out to be a collectable treasure made by Couroc, manufactured in Monterey, California. 

I've added a burlap wreath to the front door...

...and a few pumpkins stacked on an old crock.

I pick pumpkins based on their stems. The more gnarly the stem, the more I like it! This is a good one!

 

 Here's a happy little Jack-O-Lantern with a really gnarly stem!

 I hope you have a safe and fun Halloween.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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Scenes from the Country - No. 8

Isn't it comforting to know that God sees every tear we shed through this life. Even when we think no one else knows or understands or cares, He is always there. Waiting.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.

Wishing you God's best,

Elaine

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Making a Vintage Bottle Chandelier

I recently saw a chandelier made from vintage bottles and decided to create my own using my personal collection. I've always loved bottles and have collected them since I was a child. When I found the scripture in Psalm 56 that tells how God sees every tear we shed and collects each one of them in His bottle, they became even more precious to me. I'm thinking he must have one of those great big water jugs reserved with my name on it! I tend to leak a little.

I have bottles tucked away on shelves and stashed in drawers all over my house, so when I began this project yesterday the hunt was on. I felt like I was hunting Easter eggs.

After gathering them from all corners of the house, some of them not seeing daylight for a few years, I got out the bottle brushes and scrubbed them up.

 

Then I rounded up what I thought I would need for my project and headed out to the shop.

I laughed at myself because the first thing I saw when I got in the shop were the bottles lined up across the window. I just thought I had them all.

I put a quick coat of chalk paint on the metal dish holder (I'm not sure what this is actually called) that's going to serve as the top of my chandelier. 

Then I began randomly wiring the bottles to the base.

Some bottles I hung with vintage seam binding, another of my loves.

The finished project... Taa Daa! ...now hanging in my bathroom.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
You keep track of all my sorrows.  
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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Scenes from the Country - No. 7

Just a reminder that no matter how different we may think we are from the people around us, those we work with or those we see on TV, we all have one thing in common.

Here's a Heart Rock for your pocket:

There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism: one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

Wishing you God's best,

Elaine

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Fall Blooms - Old Fashion Spider Lilies

I spotted some Naked Ladies on my way to work the other day. Now, I feel the need to explain myself...I'm talking about Spider Lilies not actual ladies. Growing up, we always called then Naked Ladies (really, we say neked around here).

It's October in Texas and everything, flower wise, is just about dead. The ground is hard and dry. I had actually forgotten that Spider Lilies were still to come until I saw those Naked Ladies. They are a very old fashioned flower. I transplanted mine from an old home site. They grow from bulbs that are about an inch in size and multiply very well. They spring up with no leaves or foliage (hence the naked part). After they flower, then the strap-like leaves make a mound similar to Liriope or Monkey Grass, which remains through the winter.

After spotting the "Ladies" blooming, I came home and checked on mine and sure enough they were popping up.

If you look closely at the ground above, you can see one just pushing through.

Here are a few among the dried hydrangea blooms.

A couple of days later, they look like this..

Here's a single bloom...

They are very unique.

In about a week's time, they transformed from the first photo to an explosion of color.

Just when I thought the season had ended...what a nice surprise!

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” 
John 2:10

Wishing you God's Best, 
Elaine

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Scenes from the Country - No. 6

Here's a picture taken on Hwy 1 in California this past May. It was a beautiful, sunny, cool day and the coast was gorgeous. The ocean was foggy and mysterious. It was my first trip to California, but I sure hope it won't be my last.

Here's a Heart Rock for your Pocket:
If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31

Wishing you God's best,
Elaine

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