Pretty and Green

Good morning (or afternoon) friends!

Just a word this morning that my brother shared with me a few moments ago.  My niece has been in the hospital since yesterday and is having some different tests run.  I have of course been praying for her and texted him this morning to ask what specifically I could pray for right now.  His response was this.. ”You have already prayed, now just start praising Him”.

(Thanks for the reminder, my sweet brother, to do what I already know but sometimes forget.)

So that is what I am doing.  I am praising Him and thanking Him in advance for what He is doing and going to do.  Doesn’t mean I will stop praying, but I will be praising and expecting along the way.

Let  me just stop right now and say, “I praise you Lord Jesus”!

Okay…moving along to what I want to show you this morning.

When I was in Texas last year I found a beautiful little green table with two small benches.  When my friend Becky didn’t buy it, I knew it had to come to Tennessee with me.

For the last year or so, it has been in our playroom pretty much hiding and not really used.

Well, I decided a few days ago that it needed to make an appearance downstairs in our living room. 

Since I have been shuffling furniture around over the last month, I had the perfect spot for it where it would be greatly used.

She now sits in a place where she will be used for many things.

We can sit here and do our school work.

We can use it to eat at.

I can easily set my computer here and play away.

I can sit here for no reason at all except for the fact that I really love it being in my living room.

Just moving this little jewel downstairs has made me fall in love with it all over again.

I worked on a little sewing project over the weekend that I can’t wait to show you. 

Yes, I have a sewing machine, BUT I can only sew a straight stitch.  I have relatively no sewing skills, but I do love the little project that I just completed. 

Have a wonderful day and hope to see you again soon here at our home.

You are welcome here anytime.

Linking up at Knick of Time

DIY by Design: Winter Blues Wednesday 

My Farmhouse Wanna Be Kitchen

Hey friends!

 

Have I told you that I want a beautiful farmhouse kitchen?  Yes, I know I have.  I’m just reminding you.

 

It’s not just the kitchen I want  but  I would LOVE to have the whole farmhouse.

 

Do you ever get tired of me somewhat (just a little on occasion) complaining (but still trying hard to be content) about my kitchen?

 

I know you have heard all of my sad stories about wanting so much to paint my kitchen cabinets and change my counter tops. 

 

You have also heard me say that it’s just not gonna happen.  Nope…probably never ever.  It’s just something my husband will not budge on and I  respect him on that.

 

That doesn’t mean, however,  that I haven’t tried real hard to achieve a little bit of a farmhouse look in there.

 

This POST shows you one side of the kitchen that has a little of that cozy farmhouse feel.

 

It’s just the other side that I have such a hard time with.

 

Why do I want a farmhouse kitchen?

 

Because every time I see one in person or in pictures, my heart skips a beat, and another beat and then another.  They just speak all kinds of things to me.  A little love thing going on.

 

You ladies who have beautiful white kitchens with butcher block counter tops and gorgeous farm sinks…yes, I am a wee little envious.  Just sayin… 

 

Understand me though, I am not coveting.  I want you to have your kitchen, I just want one too.

 

And, I am thankful for my kitchen because, after all, it is JUST a kitchen.  Perspective, right?

 

So what have I done?

 

I have taken off more and more cabinet doors. 

 

I have added new hardware.

 

I have accessorized with things I love.

 

I have made my kitchen look probably way too busy, but I keep in mind that everything that is out is something I use very often.

 

I also keep in mind that a hardworking farm wife years ago and today would want easy access to all of her stuff.  She would want to save time by having things close at hand.

 

Thus…part of why I have such a busy looking kitchen.  I like having things nearby.

 

So let me show you now, after all of those many words, how I have done a little more change up.

 

Oh yeah…remember that I have very dated oak cabinets…in case you forgot.  And, I have green countertops.

 

This photo doesn’t look so orangey…just wait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I guess the major change was that I took off more cabinet doors.

 

My sweet man has been out of town for 2 1/2 weeks.

 

Do you think he will notice? 

 

My New Fireplace Mantel

Hi friends!

Before I go any further I just want to simply say how much I appreciate your visits and your comments.  God uses so many of you to speak wisdom and encouragement into my life. 

Thank you for that.

Now I want to show you my latest purchase from my wonderful treasure hunting uncle who knows me so well.

This beautiful green mantel he found is now my headboard.

I love the pop of color it adds to my white walls. 

This great old crock was hanging out in my mom’s garage.

  So happy that she has stuff out there that she doesn’t even know she has that she so lovingly shares with her only daughter. 

I’ve told you before that I love the word Devoted.   

A simple word with big meaning.

This gorgeous quilt box was also another thing hiding in my mom’s garage.   Can you believe it?

Isn’t it wonderful to find hidden treasures?

It’s such a thrill to always be on the hunt for something discarded..something once loved but tossed aside.

I love seeing the beauty in something that others have forgotten.

I am so thankful that the Lord sees me as beautiful.

I am so thankful that no matter how dirty or broken I may be, He finds me of great worth. 

“Oh how He loves me”! 

“Oh how He loves you”!

“Oh how He loves you and me”!

Partying at Knick of Time

Amazing Love

My fella, the twin on the left, has been gone for over a week and still has a week to go.

My Valentine’s day was spent with the other three loves of my life…my children.

We ate a wonderful dinner together and also watched a fabulous movie called Amazing Love.

The movie was based on the story of Hosea and Gomer from the book of Hosea in the Bible.

It was probably a lower budget film, but, in my opinion, was a huge hit.

Hosea is a picture of God’s amazing love for us.

Hosea gives assurance that though God must judge sin, He always desires to heal and restore.

God wants us to acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives.

He wants to love us with His amazing love and He wants us to love Him back.

Please don’t ever question the love that God has for you.  Deal…

I hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day.  

Linking up at Common Ground

A Common Theme

Hey my friends!

 

Are you all doing well?  I sure hope so.

 

I am great! 

 

Before I go any further, I want to say thank you for those who left me a kind comment on my article in Artful Blogging.  You are all very very kind.

 

I just got a new “thing” for my bedroom that I can’t wait to photograph and show you all because I am so excited about it.  Will be taking some pictures soon and will show you.

 

Of course, you may not like it nearly as much as I do, but I still have to show you.

 

Until I take some new bedroom pictures, I was thinking today about some of my “likes” and “loves”.

 

I love white dishes.

 

I love anything galvanized.

 

I love chippy white anything.

 

I love using coconut oil as my new face moisturizer.  (just threw that one in to see if you were still reading)   More on that later though.

 

I love vintage linens.

 

I love the word Devoted.

 

I love the #9.

 

Speaking of the number 9…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strange, huh?

 

It can be the number 9…equal 9…or have a 9 in it and I like it.

 

I know, I know…but I have my reasons. 

 

I hope you have had a wonderfully blessed Sunday and that the rest of your week is fabulous!

A “Treasure”

^{Matthew 6: 19-21… 19} “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

 

A few treasures of mine.

 

This is one of the photos that Artful Blogging used in their Spring Edition 2013. 

 

They chose a few others and also shared an article that I wrote entitled Treasures. 

 

I wrote about beautiful, vintage, timeless treasures, but I also wrote about the treasure of family and friendship.  I shared my love for the Lord.

 

What an honor to be featured in their beautiful magazine.

 

More than that was the opportunity I was given to share my faith in this sort of venue.

 

For that opportunity, I was most thankful.

 

Thank you to Artful Blogging.

What a beautiful magazine!  Check it out.

Freshening Up the Dining Room

Hi friends! 

I want you to know that I am glad you stopped by for a visit today.  Really I am.  I know your time is precious, so thanks.

My dining room just got a little refreshing this week when I saw some beautiful little pink buds on one of my shrubs. 

These were brand new little flowers and not very far up on the branches. 

Aren’t they pretty and springy?

Of course, with the addition of a few little flowers and a good cleaning, I had to do some more fluffing in the dining room. 

No big changes just a little freshening up.

Along with the pretty pink flowers, I also pulled out my blue bottles to add a touch of color and more springiness to the room.

Small bouquets of lavender are all over my house.

My nanny’s handwritten recipes hold a special place in my heart.

Boy this corner is simple but I like it simple.

I think I have told you before that this table is where my youngest and I do our homeschooling. 

Such a peaceful room to learn in.

Pitchers beautiful pitchers…

My cheap little press board linen cabinet will hopefully be replaced someday soon with something old and beautiful. 

Until then, it meets my need of holding tablecloths, cloth napkins and a few extra platters.

On top of this little cabinet sits another favorite thing…

Little white pitchers filled with vintage flatware and lavender…a good thing.

Isn’t it fun to freshen and fluff a room?

It makes my heart race a little. 

Little pops of blue with the chair, the bottles, and the dried hydrangea.

  Feels like spring time to me…at least inside.

Blessings to you, friends.

Happy February!

Linking up at Common Ground's Winter Lovelies