Dogwood Days

I love bringing the outdoors,

indoors.

Our Dogwood trees are covered w/ the thickest
mass of blooms I've ever seen.

I knew it wouldn't hurt to cut a few sprigs
to bring inside to use for some Spring decorating.

Over at Thistlewood Farm ,Karianne
inspired me by her post on eggs!

So, I made these-

A little closer look...

I just nestled them in a little rafia,
inside the beautiful china passed down
to us from my late Mother-in-love.

And oh, let me tell you.
Whenever I decide to do something like this,
it's usually very, spur of the moment,
while I'm still in my jammies and not presentable.
~AND SO~
While working on my crafty inspiration, someone
came a rap, tap, tapping at my door.
I don't open the door to strangers when home alone.
And I never open the door if I'm not presentable.
If it's someone I know, they just have to wait.

So, I didn't answer the door.  The folks left.

And so did Boone.  He took off with them
as they walked down our street going door-to-door.

At first I tried calling and whistling from an
undisclosed location.  Out of sight.
Hiding behind the corner of the house.
But, alas,Boone couldn't hear me.
*sigh*
So, I then had to make my presence known,
calling for Boone to come back home.
I had to step out in plain view,
I was in a bit of a panic, and all embarrassed,
(what if the mail lady see's me out here in all
this unpresentableness)
(unpresentableness=not a real word)
I had no idea just how far my Boone would go!

There I am, yelling desperately for Boone to come back!
He finally heard me, and came bounding
back home.  The folks who had just been
here turned and waved at me.
But thankfully, they didn't come back by
and make the situation even more awkward.

Did I mention how awkward
this whole thing was???

It was awkward.

"Hello strangers!  No, I won't open my door to you...
BUT I will come bounding out of my house, yelling like
a mad woman for my doggie, my Boonie-boy!
I can't let him run off, not for the world.  Ms. W has
entrusted him to me, while she is away during the day.
So please excuse me, toodles, uh, e-hem,
I must go back in and hide, just in case someone
else comes a rap, tap, tapping on my door."

So I then went and hid, finished my eggs,
and later decided to make myself all presentable.
So I could go back outside and not
be ashamed by my appearance.
I went out, cut fresh Dogwood sprigs,
and made this Spring display
for my family.

And for me.

I do like to look at it too.
Flower blossoms make me very happy!

I do wish I could figure out a way to preserve
Dogwood blossoms,
they are one of my very favorites!
I'll have to give that a Google and see if
I can come up with anything.

Happy Spring to all of you!


"The flowers appear on the earth; 
the time of the singing [of birds] has come, 
and the voice of the turtledove 
is heard in our land."  
Song of Solomon 2:11-13

Your Ticket = One Vote

Opening night is so important, if you plan to go see a movie tonight, and this movie is showing in your area, consider making your vote count for something wholesome, beautiful and inspiring.

Vote for October Baby!

For more info, you can watch the trailer HERE.

May our God of grace and mercy bless your home and your family!

p.s. a little extra blessing for you all, please watch THIS ,
warning you better have your kleenex ready!

Then Sings My Soul!

So much to praise our God for!

So many answered prayers!

A dear friend in Ohio came through her procedure
for her brain aneurysm, without any
complications or setbacks.
Her Dr. is a Christian and he praised
God right along with her and her husband.  
Many prayers went up for her, God protected
her during this dangerous procedure.

Another sweet gal, a friend of our two gals, who
has been terribly ill, for two solid weeks is now well!
Saw her beautiful smile just last night at church!
And I hugged her!
Many people prayed for her,
and God answered in this way!

My sister has prayed for her husband for 33 yrs.,
and just recently he shared with her that he has
believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation!
Many people have prayed for him, loved him,
shared God's goodness with him!
(This is most special to my heart, seeing God's
hand upon my sister and her husband, as God dealt
with her heart {becoming a Biblical woman} and dealing
with his, showing him his need for Jesus Christ!)

My cousin's baby girl, only one yr. old, just had
heart surgery last Friday.  They were told-
3 days in ICU, 3 days in stepdown, and then home.

But last night they were told, she is doing so
incredibly well, they will be letting her go home
today!   TODAY!
Many prayers went up for this family.  Many!

Not long ago they experienced a very tragic
and sad loss within their family.  And so, for
God to have blessed them and their sweet
little girl with such goodness is overwhelming!

Yesterday morning a friend shared how God
is pouring out blessing upon blessing in her life,
after she and her daughter experienced great loss
just a couple of months ago when their home and
entire contents burned to the ground.

She stood beside me in church, hands held high
praising God, thanking Him, for His hands being
upon her and her daughter, keeping them safe.
They were both asleep when the house caught
fire and it's truly a miracle that her daughter survived.
(It has been incredible to watch the body of Christ pour
into the life of this precious friend and her daughter,
providing a place for them to live, and giving them all they
need to continue on.  The body of Christ in action is a
blessed thing to witness.)

Last night, a precious man from our congregation
shared with the rest of us, his life story.
And we heard how after many years of living for himself,
he now lives a surrendered life,
doing whatever God asks him to do.
He visits some of the most hardened criminals
in our prison system and takes the light
of Christ to them.
Many of these men, sentenced to life in prison
have come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus.

Yes, my soul is singing!

Share some things that are making your soul sing,

I would love to hear!

Flower Bed Cleanup Day

We started out with a cup of coffee...

actually, that should say-

 I started out w/ coffee,

Boone on the other hand...

... chewed on my chair.

We enjoyed the Redbud and Forsythia, in full bloom today!

Hyacinths-

and the Grape Hyacinths.

And also Dogwood, which are green when they first bloom.
They eventually turn white and will be spectacular!

Such a gorgeous day to be outside working,
the Mockingbirds have been singing since
before sunrise...
we had to pause and take in the gorgeous blue sky behind the Redbud blooms!

And then the work began,
we proceeded to clean up the flower bed.
He and I, no, um, just I...

He had more important things to do.

He gathered all of my tools up for me...
(while I was using them...)

He made sure my hand spade tasted just right,
before he let me use it.

He saved me from the monstrous rake, by attacking it
and showing it who is boss around here.

And then he called for "BREAK!"

All of that gathering and defending
just wore him plum out!

Good thing I had Boone here to help me today!

Wink!  Wink!

Time, Why Must You Move So Fast???

It seems like it was just yesterday
and we were preparing for a special visit.

How can it be that a month has slipped by,
and I've not had time to share
about our very special guests
who were here last month???

TODAY, I am making time TODAY
to share this special occasion with the rest of you!

Our daffodils bloomed early here,
and made the perfect centerpiece for our
guests who arrived February 9th!

We set the table in anticipation of-

Mountain Man, Mountain Mama,
Scout, Boo-Bear, and Trooper.
Our dear friends who we first met through her blog,
and then in Idaho, face to face, last June.

She let us know they would be coming through,
and we're so glad she did!

Just look at her, isn't she just beautiful?
How can one stay so "put-together" after
traveling 6 hrs, getting up so early to leave?
She looked mah-ve-lous!
Oh, I do love your new glasses Mt. Mama!!!

All of our kiddos w/ us!
Those Mountain kids sure are CUTE!!!

Scout and Trooper did a fine job grinding 

some wheat while they were here! 

Good exercise for them, they were full of energy!

Just imagine all the bread I could make w/ their help!

And yes, those are Christmas lights 

you see hanging around the window.  

Our Ms. C loves white lights, and so they are still there, 

some remains of Christmas/winter decor!  

We are not rednecks!  I repeat we are NOT rednecks!

Oh sorry, now where was I???

Ahh yes, this serene moment-

Boo-Bear and Ms. W hanging out, discussing art,

and horses... and whatever cute little subject 

Boo-Bear wanted to talk about.    

What a great family they are!

We're so thankful we had a chance to catch up with
one another and learn that things are all good for
both of our families!  That God is in control and
teaching us all some really good lessons along the way.

The only problem, our visit wasn't long enough.
She and I never have enough time to just talk.

Maybe someday...we'll get to visit again,
and have more time.

Cherish the friends God has blessed your life with,
they are there for a reason!

Have a blessed day friends!!!
 

Sad Day In Our Little Home

Our loyal, faithful old friend, Mr. Farley died this morning.

We knew time was coming to an end for him.
And our little Boone offered comfort to him in his last days.

We sure will miss our old guy.
You couldn't ask for a better dog.

So loyal, gentle, and yet our fierce defender
 if a stranger stepped onto our property.

He loved his family fiercely!
And we loved him too!

13 long years he was given.  We can't even count the hikes, walks, truck-rides, lazy days stroking his soft ears.  Trips to the river, the creek, walks through the woods.  So many good memories of our Farley boy.

Our silly old dog, who loved to eat apples!  So smart, he knew what it meant when we would say- "Farley, you hungry?"  "Load up!"  "Get your nibbles!"  "Want to go for a walk?" and many other things.

Whenever I would be working late out in our little wood shop,
he would stay with me until it was time for me to go in.

My protector!

And when he was happy, he smiled.

RIP old friend, we will miss you greatly!

They'll never be another Farley boy.

March 5, 2012