We Are Not Alone...

This little impromptu worship clip blessed me 

today.  A friend of mine has a family member 

in this chorale.

We were in Ireland last year - but we missed 

this beautiful cathedral.  The chorale's CD with 

the full version is available here.

Twig Garden Trellis...

Last night I planted a few things in our tiny 

vegetable garden.  For my sugar snap peas this 

year - I decided to try an 'au natural' trellis 

for them to climb on.  

I saw this idea somewhere on the web - can't remember where.  I found and cut a few branches, stuck them in the ground and tied them together at the top to form a twig tepee...

 I told you it was tiny.  It would look better with a fence around it - but we need all the sun we can get.  Our outside dog helps keep 'visitors' at bay.

 The peas are planted around each twig trellis 

in a circle - we'll see if it works!

 And here's a shot of my side perennial flower bed

right now - before  mulching...

 I'm also trying something new with my lamium.

  I planted some in buried containers to 

see if I can contain it better.  Again - we will see.

Happy gardening everyone!

Joining the party at House of Hepworth's.

Come on over and see lots more inspiration!

Growing Celery From Celery...

A few weeks ago - I was inspired through Pinterest 

to visit Farm Bells Recipes at Chickens in the Road site.  They have an interesting post about 

'regrowing celery from a store stalk'.  

I decided to try it.  

I planted mine indoors since it's still a bit early 

for warm weather plants.

 I recently purchased an old enamel bucket that 

has some holes in the bottom.  Seemed like the perfect indoor garden for this idea.

 After a few weeks - this is what it's looking like.  

I don't have the best sunny windows - or I think it could have grown faster.  I keep it well watered 

and am excited to see...

...if I will actually get a full new celery stalk out

of this.  I'll plant it outside in a few weeks and we shall see...

Click on the link in this post for the full 'how-to'.  

But basically - you just cut off the bottom of a 

store bought celery stalk and plant it.  

How's that for thrifty?

Linking to Knick of Time Tuesday
and Cowgirl Up

Simple Supper Tablescape...

 We had a couple over for a light supper Sunday evening. 

 In light of the spring weather we've been having (although it's colder today), I had to break out 

some vintage tulip dishes.

A portion of my birthday flowers joined us 

on the table...

 ...as did a recently acquired quadruple plate cup 

to hold extra napkins. 

I love simple hosting.

Linking to Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Forsake All...

...whoever of you does not forsake 

all that he has cannot be My disciple.  

Luke 14:33

Taken at Ephrata Cloister living history museum

A reminder from this morning's message in church.  What is it in our lives that is keeping us from following Jesus?  Being a disciple does come with 

a high price tag - although it's a simple message.  What could Jesus be asking you to forsake?

Pray and read scripture with a seeking heart to find out.

Nests and Zippers...

I found a couple of cute projects today in blog

land that link to my li'l ol' blog as their inspiration.  What an honor!   Inspired from my last year's 

spring and Easter flower pot project...

Tales Of a Trophy Wife created these cuties...

And I once made a few metal zipper flowers...

  ...and The Olde Farmhouse on Windmill followed suit.  Except hers are even better and come with a great sweater pillow tutorial...

I'm tellin' ya - the inspiration just never ends.  

I'm lovin' this blogging thing!

Considering Selling on Etsy?

I was recently contacted by one of the promotional team from Etsy.  They put together an attractive graphic that sums up all the little details about 

selling on Etsy.  I'm happy to share it with you...

Source: PromotionalCodes.net

Didn't they do a nice job?  I'd be happy to share 

my Etsy selling experience with you.  

It's a fun community!

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

Just Listed in my Etsy Shop

Unused Vintage Flat Sheets with Labels

Flowers and Chocolates....

...these are a girl's best friends!  I woke to all 

this yumminess this AM from My Love...

 

 And I didn't get just any chocolates...but a local handmade candy shop's chocolates in DARK!  

Can I get a YES!!  The box is even pink...

 ...like they are expected to be a women's favorite.  I've already begun the nibbling process...

 And look at the sweet card - Adirondack chairs!

My Love always includes these - they are his favorite.

The flowers were sitting in a blue Mason 

jar for me.  Thank you Honey!  

This has been a great birthday.

Holy and Pleasing To God...

Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, 
holy and pleasing to God—this is your true 
and proper worship. 
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, 
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  

Romans 12:1b-2a

Taken at the Ephrata Cloisters living history museum.

  The Cloisters lived a very disciplined way of life 

as their way of being 'non-conformed; holy and pleasing to God.'  While perhaps they were a bit extreme - we that are Christians are none-the-less called to be different from the pattern of this 
world.  Not just in how we love (which is often taught), but in how we live.  
That includes every area of our life.  
Won't you join me?

Spring Cleaning...

Gorgeous, gorgeous day!  I had to throw open 

some windows and do some spring cleaning.

Our front dutch door.

 I decided to tackle a bathroom - twas in a bad state...

 ...especially the window.  This was my view as I cleaned.  Our trees are pretty ivy laden I see...

 Cleaned every single surface - walls, floors, 

(wasn't planning on that one but spilled a whole bucket of water!!),  faux floral swags and all...

 I'm a tired little puppy...  But I'm not complaining.  There was a time spring cleaning was not an 

option due to some physical limitations.  

I'm thankful for today's abilities.  

Have you done any spring cleaning yet?

Yep, this is a pink bathroom.  Hope to change it someday...

Linking to Pink Saturday
Seasonal Sunday 

Affordable Luxuries...

I have a confession - I love pretty bar soaps.  

Yep, even better than liquid soap.  

 I know it can eventually get messier.  But to me, the initial prettiness is worth it.

 It just has a charm all it's own.  The color, 

the design, the fragrance - it's a spa experience 

in the palm of your hand.

 Found 3 bars of these pretties this week for 

25 cents each.  I love 'em.  Anybody with me?

Linking to:

Frugal Friday

Show and Tell Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Vintage Inspiration Friday

The Start Of a Spring Porch...

Our weather is unseasonably warm.  Too warm for the winter decor I have on my front porch.  So with about 45 of time - I started a redo...

 I picked up these twig balls for next to nothing 

the other week - they'll work for filler for now.  
As will the pastel poppies ...

 At least it's a step in the right direction from 

what it was...

 My 'Welcome' slate is missing it's bottom corner - 

but tucked into the flowers you can't tell.  

Just couldn't bear to trash that sweet 

hummingbird painting.

This is the other side of my door - 

awaiting more plants...

...when it warms up a bit more.

~~~~~~~~~

Etsy Listing Updated

Tin Candy Eggs - now 4 instead of 2!

Linking to Home Sweet Home

Creating Vignettes...

As I've often blogged about before - I create 

displays on top of the dress racks at the thrift 

shop where I volunteer.  

Let me share the steps I use to create 

these simple vignettes.  Remember - 

I'm working only with what is for sale in the shop - 

nothing from home and no 'display only' pieces.  

This same process works in your home.

 For the vignette below - I walked around the store 

till I found something that 'struck me' as neat 

looking and sizable for the space I'm working with.  

In this case - the primitive gift bag ($1 I think)...

Step 1 - Inspiration Piece

 Then I walked around some more till I found more primitive items to go with it.

Step 2- Build a Theme Considering the Season

We didn't have much - but I was determined to 

use what I could find.  It's also important that 

the color scheme coordinates.

Step 3 - Make Sure Colors Coordinate

 You want larger items in the back and smaller 

items in the front... in varying heights.  Sometimes 

I use risers or books to get the right height.

Step 4 - Consider Scale

It's fun to add extras if possible.  I found a piece 

of primitive tissue paper behind a cashier counter.  

I just threw it into the vignette (above).

Step 5 - Incorporate Details

I found these wooden eggs - but they would have 

been lost just sitting there.  They'd look cute in 

the  wagon.  I made some straw by cutting a piece 

of brown paper in strips.  Some bunched paper underneath topped with the strips made for 

faster filling. I also used old sewing pattern tissue  

to fill the gift bag - why not?

Another look at the finished product...

But I really wanted Spring vignettes - 

so I made sure the other 2 displays 

incorporated pastels and florals.  

There you have it - 3 vignettes in a 

row when you walk in the door - 

2 for Spring and 1 Primitive - because

that's what I could find today.

(My fav. is the sewing vignette!)

Dead To...Alive To...

"Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, 

but alive to God in Christ Jesus." 

Romans 6:11

Taken at the Ephrata Cloister living history museum

Tasty Diet Smoothie...

I'm doing a little dieting (or trying to...).  I found 

a book at a thrift shop that I'm not going to 

promote (not sure about some things in it.)  

But it had a recipe for a smoothie that I tried.  

It's simply 

1 c. skim milk and 1 c. frozen fruit pureed in 

a blender.  I tried to like it - I really did - but it 

made me about half sick.  Looks pretty though...

 So I added bit of honey.  What a difference.  

I think I could live on this stuff.  Simply delicious!  

I used blueberries in this one.

You can't even tell it's skim milk!  Do you have any favorite 'diet snacks'?  I'd love to hear about them.