Taking Time

I've started a new Devotional. It's by Ann Voskamp who is the author of One Thousand Gifts. If any of you are familiar with this book, you know it's all about being thankful. It's so easy to get mired down in what we don't have or what's missing in our lives. Money, Family, Weather, Weight, etc.

Yesterday was so beautiful here. Cold, but sunny and a sunset that was out of this world. I stood in amazement at my Creator, how he could create such vivid colors and light. While I tried to capture it on film, I knew there was no possible way. Often I find that God's beauty overwhelms me. To think He made that sunset for my pleasure!

This morning I woke up to heavy, freezing fog. It's been cold here, but sunny, so this morning was a bit shocking. Yet, there was beauty in the morning as well. Things I would have normally not seen were highlighted with frost. There truly is beauty all around, but sometimes you have to look at things in a different light. While there were brilliant colors and light in the sunset, the beauty of the morning stood out due to the dullness, and lack of light.

A thought from Ann this morning~

So what if we really paid attention

and nickel-and-dimed life away

on afternoon tag by the cedars.

A string of bare toes with a stack of old books.

This one, lone bowl filling with morning light. 

Day after, day, shelling out slow mindfulness

on whatnot's of amazing grace, 

collecting pieces of God-glory.

This buying a bit of medicine

that cures ADD of the soul.

I love the part about  'shelling out slow mindfulness of whatnot's of amazing grace' !

I'm taking time today to slow down and savor the moments, being appreciative, and  seeing the beauty and the joy in the "everyday-ness" of life.

I am so blessed~

What are We Thinking???

This weekend our plans were to:

1. get the generator working and tested...supposed to be a nasty winter...
2. put the lamp posts back together...after painting and adding outlets...
3. plant all the plants that are sitting in pots on the porch and around the garden...
4. paint the entry...lots of parties coming up
5. start making a slipcover for the chair...
6. work on the Christmas quilt that is now going on the fourth Christmas...I still like it...





Instead, we got it into our heads to do this...

I'm not so good at taking the before pictures, but this was my son's room when we first moved here. We had painted the walls with aluminum paint and then my hubby made all the trim, chair rail and crown molding. We (he) made it all out of sheet metal, and used big screws and washers to attach it to the wall. It was very cool!!!! Lots of metal shelves, black bed and red accents around the room.
When my daughter moved out, my son took over her room and we just moved her furniture into his old room. She has all white, cottage-ie-type furniture, 4-poster bed stuff and it just never looked quite right!!!

She's coming home this weekend so of course we started a new project, which won't be done in time for her visit, which means she has to sleep on the couch in the bonus room!!!!

We're going to do board and batten on the bottom and dark brown on the top, with crown molding (from our old LR) on the top. I need to paint everything and then repaint all of her furniture too. I should be doing this now, as it's actually nice out, but probably won't get to it today!!

Needless to say, not much of our list was accomplished!!! Brian and Tyler did get the lampposts back up and working, and I got most of the plants in the ground. Also got the lawn mowed yesterday. I keep hoping it's the last mow of the season, but 4 days later it needs mowing again!!!

In other news:

I found out my friend Debra is a rug hooker. She invited me to her home to show me what she's working on. I've always wanted to learn this art and after seeing her rug...I'm "hooked"!!!! I can't wait to see the finished project!

This piece is quite large and will hang above her couch. Do you see the pumpkin patch??? And to the left of the little house is a clothesline with dungaree's on it!!!! I only want to make this and then I will be quite content in the rug hooking business.

There is a group of "hookers" that meet once a week at the senior center and I've attended the last 2 weeks. They are so eager to share and teach and their projects are amazing!

This lady is making one of these for each of her four children. This is where they grew up and where they lived. The Teton's are in the background and I believe this is for her son who works for the railroad. She tries to make each one personal, but the general look is the same for each kid. What a beautiful legacy!

The cutest things there, of course, are the seniors!!! What a happening place!!! Lots of activities, but every Tuesday there is dancing from 1-4!!! Live music and everyone dresses up just a little!! No jeans here!!!! A whistle is blown, (quite loudly, I assume because they are hard of hearing) every minute or so and they have to change partners. This is a good idea, cuz some of those men are quite good, while others seem to be falling asleep on their feet!!!!! The little ladies have their hair all curled up and their high heels on and darned if they all aren't the cutest things!!!!

A few weeks ago we had quite the rain storm. As it was pouring behind my house, the front of my house had this to feast on......

The top picture is from my front porch. I couldn't get a picture of the full rainbow, but you could see it from end to end!

And then...it doubled!!!!

Reminds me of the song...All God's Promises are Yes and Amen!!!!! Nothing is prettier than the pictures He paints!!!