Blogging with a purpose

Here are the rules:
1              Thank who gave it to you and post the rules
2              Copy the award in your blog
3              List 3 things you love about yourself
4              Post a picture or quote you love
5              Tag 3-5 people you wish to pass this award to.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


I'm flattered! Lezlee at PriorLives 
gave me this blog award; I have never EVER! gotten an award (on this blog)-- it's so nice, so JUST THIS ONCE  I'll play along.  


3 Things I love about me-  

1. I serve a Great and Mighty God
2. My Honey  and our lasting marriage
3. That I am PRACTICAL like my Granny Jo- and love  being creative and frugal.

A quote I love: 

"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:28

3 Ladies I'm tagging: 

http://thebostonlady.blogspot.com/







http://coleenscorner.blogspot.com/


God Bless
and
Thanks for Reading!

You've Got (Really Cute!) Mail-

I wanted to show the really CUTE envelopes I made for the up coming baby shower next month. 

( I can't take the credit)

I got the idea here. 

I gathered up as many baby magazines as I could find and started ripping out all the pages I could find with 

the fewest words and the most colorful baby content. 

(please excuse the white scribbles... I had already addressed them when I remembered to photograph!)

I blew them up really big so you could see the detail... 

CAUSE THEY  ARE JUST SO DERN CUTE!!!!

My mad-photo- skills are just so great too; 

see how I just laid them out there on the chair (of all places) ?

Told you... it was completely a second thought. 

God Bless you 

and 

Thanks for Reading! 

In Our Yard today...

I showed you my kids old pony back in March and how we found it behind the barn -- all but forgotten. 
You can read about it here. 

 After finding a perfect rope LASSO (really, a lasso)  in the middle of the FM Rd --coming back from town, 

SOME POOR COWBOY is probably thinkin' 

"Uh, well, I know I had it on thu truck when I was roundin' up them last cows, Thu udder mornin'." 

 he has found a new home;

 in a front yard tree! This time so  the Grands can love and enjoy him! 

Kernals of Goodness-

Having some techno difficulties this past week with the camera-  While I do have some 'goings-on' of my own to report, I have no pictures! 

So I thought for Goodness sake, I'd show you a few pictures that I've seen around the blogsphere this week of things that really, really got my attention. 

Here are some little projects that I've seen, that
make
me
go ...

Hmmm....


This Sun porch  at BeachBrights --- This curtain treatment was Soooo Cool!
I loved the galvanized goodness of the fence caps, tension bands and carriage bolts against the exposed brick.
What is not to love about this rustic outdoors way to hang curtains? Ironically, the drop cloth curtains soften that area so much,...completely unexpected with that hardware.



Another sun porch this time--
Amy at New Nostalgia showed this lovely sun porch and how she goes about spring cleaning! I came away feeling very inspired.
Not to mention how beautiful and peaceful she made this room look by the time she was finished.
Love the painted floor as well.  The colors (yellow and green, both my favorites) make me say...Aaaahhh!  



The gals over at the Lemon Tree Creations had a lot to offer as I cruised around their blog.
Where have they been hiding...really?  Because I was looking around over there-- let's just say, I've got to visit there more often, I couldn't get my eyes filled, there is so much to see. so much talent.











And then, lastly I looked around at some creative sewing ideas. I found a couple of things that struck my fancy. (smile)
The Crafter's File Box this is a new site for me.  I looked here and found a great many ideas. I'm going there more often to see what else this little treasure holds. She gave a tutorial (nicely done by the way) on how to make this little 'Planket' as she calls it.  It's a pillow and blanket all tucked into one...great gift for the Grands, I say.



From Sew a Straight Line this is another sewing tutorial. Since Honey retired we've really been looking for ways to save, to cut corners and stop throwing our money away- this idea does that literally.
Hand sewn towels on a roll! Fantastic Idea! She is having a give away for this set (hope to win)but even if I don't... I've been inspired!





In fact after seeing all these different  I-good-deas; I'd have to say...nothing but In-SPIR-A-tion! .  I loved all of them. Just looking at all the talent out there makes you want to get busy and make something.
I NEED all the inspiration I can get.  My creative juices flow like molasses...SsssLLOowwW!

Check out these sites for ideas-- doesn't mean you have to copy exactly what you see, but if your not feeling productive...well, there's bound to be something to light your fire.

 If these don't light your fire, then I say... "your woods all wet!" 

I hope you've enjoyed checking out all these ladies "spots" as much as I have and seeing all the creative goodness.

Until next time-
God Bless you
and
Thanks for reading!

Felt like a Party--

I've had one of those crazy busy weeks. 

Just taking care of 'life-like' situations...

I'll spare you the details. 

So today, I thought I'd take a break finally from it all and chill-ax by attending a party! 

The Nester is having a party. 

A Tassel Party. 

If you remember Donna's first Workshop series, 

getting your workspace ready, I created my first and only tassel. 

I was inspired to Tassel after seeing so many other great looking one's while visiting other 'spots' around the blogsphere. 

I'm sharing today at The Nester's party. 

(The Nester's tassels are so pretty) 

I don't really "do" pretty. 

To me pretty is... 

rusty, OLD, junky, repurposed, 

and makin' do. 

This is my little junky tassel. 

I used jute, a rusty washer, an old screen door spring, and a scrap piece of crocheted edging. 

I think it's beautiful! 

My Honey thought it was a tarantula! 

You can read the original story here. 

Make sure you visit other tassel party joiners. 

God Bless you 

and 

Thanks for reading! 

Spreading the Word

If you haven't heard about the Bachman's Spring Ideas House...
You can go here and see pictures from Linda's  (itsy bits and pieces) visit.

She generously is sharing her photos from her own visit.
They're great and believe me when I say this house is FULL OF IDEAS.

God Bless you

and 

Thanks for reading! 

This is only the beginning

...Of the growing season.  It's gonna be a looong season.

See this tractor? 

Yes, it's been sitting here since the middle of last summer. 

It is needy. 

It needs help. 

Great tractor.

Strong tractor.

NO STARTING TRACTOR. 

See this young man, working on the riding mower? 

He's our oldest son. 

Very helpful.

Always willing. 

He's got talent and tenacity.

This mower only needed some tweaking, maintenance, and a gentle nudge to get it ready for the season.

Yay! He got it running. 

See this tractor? 

That is my brother driving. That is his JOHN DEERE tractor. 

He drove down here about 75 miles; to come and mow for us this weekend. 

It was a blessing really, because you can see how tall the grass is in the field already. 

See these men? 

Brother on the left, Honey on the right. 

Object of their attention. 

Brother's tractor.

Ok. well, if you can't use the mower to mow the field...

You can use it to 

TRIM TREES! 

yes, I know that looks dangerous. 

But very effective.

They got it running again in order to mow...but then it rained. 

Ah...rain.  If it's not one thing

It's another. 

Bet you didn't know there was a jungle in Texas did you?

Anyway... Like I was saying, this is only the beginning of the growing season.  I've never in 16 years of living in the country WANTED COWS...but I'm starting to think it's not a bad idea.  One cow could eat 4 acres of grass, right? Just one.  That's all I'm saying. In the mean time ...

God Bless you- 

Thanks for reading! 

Crocheted Banner-

We're getting ready for a couple new grand-babies this summer.

I showed the baby blanket I crocheted here.

I thought I'd show you the little banner/bunting I crocheted 

first it is going to be part of the decorations at the shower my oldest daughter 

is hosting for the mother-to-be (youngest daughter).

Since it is a surprise...

 these are the pictures on the clothes line. 

'Cause where else do you hang a 10 ft banner? 

Yeah, I didn't have a pattern...so I just kept 

going 

and going...

and going! 

It is the same color scheme as the blanket. 

For the decor at the shower we are only using items to decorate 

that will be given as gifts after the fact. 

No crepe paper or throw away decor...

I can't wait to see this strung between her two little boys beds

she'll have to drape/swag  it because it is so long...

I was just there yesterday to see the new paint job that the room is sporting. 

Pretty much the same colors... 

She'll love it. 

Once she receives these and they are up 

then I'll post pictures of the whole 

nursery. 

She didn't have a nursery with her first baby boy (he's two now); 

space was very limited at the time. 

So this is special to be able to decorate for both of them. 

I'm posting  this here: 

God Bless you 

Thanks for reading! 

Gettin' the Dish

Amanda's 'Dishing it' party...( link at the end)

~How long have you been blogging?
I've been blogging now for about 6 years. Have blogged here since September 2008- went public for ALL THE WORLD TO SEE ...November 2009 (5 months) 

~Why did you start blogging?
First I blogged on a home school blog, then I blogged for family (became too much personal info out there for Honey's comfort level); then I blogged about the Gospel, now I'm blogging here. Mainly because I like the blog community and I love to tell stories. 

~Tell me about your blog's title. Why did you choose it?
Well, I'll tell you a little secret... the blog title I have now... I really don't like. I chose it because it matches my URL...somebody somewhere in blogland, mentioned that it was too difficult to find a blog in which the title didn't match the URL. And since it was easier to change the title than the URL (w/o losing what readers I'd gained) that is what I did. 
 Before... my blog title was Corn in my Coffee Pot. ... I really like that title. 
   But because I tend to be a people pleaser ...in a rebellious sort of way... i changed it. 

~What do you blog about?
I blog about my first ministry; the home. 
I blog about  'getting it together, now that the kids are grown' (in a nutshell), I blog about my faith in the God of Grace and Mercy, I blog about being frugal, and living contentedly whether I have much or little, I try to share little projects that help to make our house a home.  I  share about  'loving the same ol' somebody through it all'

~What is your favorite thing about blogging?
Oh my favorite thing about blogging is... I don't have to do it. 
I can quit anytime I want to. Although now, it would be hard, because I've met so many wonderful ladies through blogging. I have connected with women all over the world who share my belief, and share some of the same heart desires that I have. 

~If you had to choose one famous person to become your blog's next devoted reader, who would you pick?
I don't think I could pick a famous person, I'm happy to have the readers that I do. ---If I did choose one famous person, it would have to be a woman; I would want her to be more than a devoted reader. I would want  her to be a welcomed guest to my home and life - and I would hope to be able to share The Gospel with her, and share from my heart about being a biblical woman of God and Trusting Him in all things, no matter what may come my way.

  

~What's the funniest comment you've ever received on a blog post?
When my readers left poems in my comments...they made me laugh. 

http://casual-cottage.blogspot.com/2010/03/ode-to-my-lil-chest-of-drawers.html#comments


head over to Serenity Now and Get the dish on everybody's blog.

God Bless You,

and

Thanks for Reading! 

His and Her Empty Nest

I recently read on someone's blog the importance of taking care of the master bedroom first

before tackling major projects elsewhere in the house. So that you have a relaxing place to come to at the end of a long tedious day. 

So, this is me for the last 5- 6 months...plugging along

...making the most of what I've been given-  

Being happy in the moment. 

Getting past the perfectionism of 'all or nothing' and just doing it- 

to the best of my ability. 

This is our bedroom about 1 -1/2 years ago. 

We lived with the ceiling like this for 11 years! 

I had stenciled the ivy  and checkerboard pattern on the wall in 1996

-- that was the year we moved here. 

Finally, after 11 years, I decided to do something with this tiny (9X12 sq.ft) space.

Please don't mind the plastic and newspaper... 

to move all this furniture out of an all ready tight spot would have been awful. 

This is the reality of it...

and it's how I work! 

In a Frenzied, spur of the moment, with no plan...and finally dragging my feet to get it done kind of way. 

Late in 2008 I painted the room... But that was it, my MIL came to stay with us

in what was the last year of her life. 

So 'HOUSE-WORK' got put on hold. 

Now I've been busy. 

This is our bedroom today. 

This shelf lining the wall is actually an old window casement. 

This room was added on and there is a room behind that wall. 

When we took the windows out, Honey built this instead. 

I like it I have a place to display  lots of little things I love. 

I Love These Apothecary Jars. 

I brought these back from my MIL home. 

Didn't know what to put in mine at first. 

Y'all put some interesting tidbits into your jars!

Mine...? 

The middle one has bits of ribbon and lace 

the other two on the sides...

all the cards that ever came with the FLOWERS 

Honey ever bought me. 

This little candle  looks like a bell if it were upside down, but it is a wire basket

I screwed a little drawer pull into the shelf to hold it. 

The Chanel No. 5---

a gift from Honey. 

These little treasures are things that bring back memories for me

during my life  ---I know when and where I got them. 

Or who they might have belonged to before being passed down to me. 

Time Passes. 

And By God's Grace 

And a little bit o'money.

I am finally able to turn our shabby (not shabby in a good way,either)

 little bedroom into a sweet little relaxing retreat! 

Can you tell I've been trying to make it cozy?  

This little frame and mirror are a new addition to this room. 

For the sake of Love and marriage and a Newly Emptied Nest ... 

(please tell me I'm not the only woman to ever wake up to a stranger the day after the last kiddo left!)

I understand now why the bedroom should be first on the makeover list. 

So  recently when I came across Our 'suitable for framing marriage certificate' (not the license)

and a gold heart shaped mirror packed away in a box ,for safe keeping no less! 

 I spray painted them both white added some burlap and an old earring

to the framed mirror 

and hung them up in our bedroom. 

I like the way it turned out.  

Cute, huh? 

There is no closet in this room. 

For years Honey didn't have a dresser of his own.

He shared one dresser with me and had one drawer. 

Finally, after the kids moved out, he got his own dresser- 

I shoved everything over re-arranged the furniture 

and just last month moved a little chest of drawers into our room for him for his clothes.

He loves it! 

They don't match...

but I'm thinking of painting them both white, 

what do you think? 

You remember this little sign? 

I think it is sweet and romantic. 

It makes me think of Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart

in 

"It's a Wonderful Life"

...And then it makes me think how fortunate I am to be married 27 years today- 
to such a patient, loving, and so VERY GIVING MAN.  He swept me off my feet when I was just a girl, and He has been the best husband and Father ,to our children, a woman could ever want.  
I can say that all these years no matter what has come our way--Truly 
It's a Wonderful Life! 

                                                                                                                                                           

Happy Anniversary Indeed! 

God bless you- 

and as always

Thank You for reading.