Blue Monday~~ Delicate, Free Wings

Today is the last Monday of August and also Blue Monday!! Hosted by our sweet Sally who makes every Monday Fun and Full of BLUE! Be sure to visit Sally and all the other Blues participants~~

A Common Prayer for American Patriots

A Common Prayer for American Patriots

FATHER...
In peace we pray for all people.
We pray --
- for our family,
- for our friends,
- for our brothers and sisters in Christ,
- for those not known to us who are lonely, who suffer illness or other adversity,
- and for those who remain in our hearts.

We pray --
- for our nation,
- for our president and national leaders, that they would seek You for wisdom, that You would protect them from the lure of greed and power and enable them to promote an agenda that is honoring to You as they govern our country.

We pray --
- for all those who stand in harm's way defending our liberty, that You would protect them and give them comfort in times of hardship, and assist them in defeating the enemy and bringing order to the world,
- for their families, that You would give them peace and stability as they await the return of their loved ones.

We pray --
- for .... (other petitions),

We pray for the knowledge of love, the wisdom of truth and the stewardship of all creation.

We pray in the name of Christ Emanuel.



I am a proud American Citizen who believes in the ratified Constitution of the United States, The American Flag and our Pledge of Allegiance.
I still get chills while singing our National Anthem. I remember how proud and excited I was in first grade, after saying the Pledge of Allegiance from memory.

~~~~God is in Control and it is in Him who we Trust.~~~~


Stand up America and be heard!

~Let Freedom Ring~

What a week I have had~~~

Oh what a week it has been!

This is told with my very dry sense of humor...Remember my tale of falling on my tail in the grocery store? Well, 2 weeks ago to the day was this past Tuesday. My Sweet Hubby & I were out running errands and we stopped by the infamous "store" to pick up a couple of things before going home. It was really hot that afternoon and my hands were swollen from the heat, so I put my 2 wedding bands on my pinkie finger. Of course I first had to stop in the ladies room. As I was drying my hands m with a paper towel, guess what fell into the trashcan along with the paper towel??? You got it~~~one of my wedding bands! That's right, straight into the trash can!

So off to the customer service desk I trot. Now keep in mind we have been shopping at this same grocery store for 10 years this June. So most of the employees either recognizes me (or acts like they do, after all, we are in the South..lol!) or knows my name. A few minutes later one of the ladies who is in charge of personnel in the store (and whom I have had many a chat with) comes out of the office. I told her what happened as we are walking back to the ladies' room. She deftly lifts the plastic bag up, shakes it down and my little gold band falls to the bottom corner of the bag! She pops a little hole in the bag, retrieves my cherished ring and VOILA'!!

Being the clean-freak aka germ-a-phob that I am, I whip out my little handi-wipe, clean it off and return it to my ring finger! I laugh and tell the Expert-Ring-Retriever, "It IS Who you know and what they know, isn't it?"

Meanwhile my Sweet Hubby is in the store shopping for what we came for and wondering where I am! Never a dull moment!



So...Then on Thursday as I am sitting at my (34 day old) pc and I get the DREADED BLUE SCREEN! Can.you.believe.this???

So, Hi-Ho-Hi-Ho, it's back to Best Buy I go! I do try to be a 'lemonade' type of girl, but let's face it, there has been a teensy bit of bad luck lately. All I know is that I should not be seeing a Blue Screen on a pc that hasn't even been broken it yet, right? (Steven's new Dell is still sealed in the box). The store manager was called since it was over the 30-day return period. I did sweetly mentioned that I had bought not one, not two, but 4 pc's ( 3 Dells and 1 Compaq) within one week of each other from that store, just in case that might help, maybe a little bit? PLEASE? As the young manager came back within a very few minutes, he gave me a nod and said to please pick out another pc. WHEW~~~I was so amazed...this never happens to me!!

The same sweet young lady that had sold me all 4 pc's was there behind the counter and said she would happily help me pick out another one. This time I did not choose a DELL and do not plan to ever again. We went with an HP this time. Since Steven has never even opened his pc, I am using his new Dell. I did verify that IF (for some crazy-oh-I-don't-know-why-it-would chance) this 2nd new Dell, that I am using gets "The Blue Screen" too~~~I can bring it back and it will be exchanged for a new pc.

Then the sweet icing of the week is......my Mom has asked me to join her and my Dad to celebrate her birthday with them at the beach in Florida for a few days next month! Sooooooo, I will be driving down to Tampa and to visit with my family. Then Mom and Dad and I will skip over to Ponte Vedra Beach and visit with my cousin and her family while enjoying the beach! Sweet Hubby wants me to go, relax, don't worry and enjoy myself...so in a couple of weeks I will!!

A sweet aromatic Gift and Ideas for my Giveaway!

A couple of days ago a sweet smelling package arrived at our door step. As you can see in the above photo, Bella just KNEW it was for her! In a rare moment of brilliance , I was able to capture this in photos...lol!












Opening the package (and trying to keep Bella from sitting in it), I inhaled the delicious delicate aroma of dried Lavender. Sweet Kathy of Spot on Cedar Pond so graciously sent this lavender she had grown and dried herself.


The scent truly is heavenly~~Just close your eyes and imagine the most delicious
aroma of lavender..ahhhh~~



~Thank you sooooo very much Kathy! You have made my little ♥ smile~



I am now approaching my 100th post! I believe this one is #93 already!
I have several ideas that I am working on and in the next few posts I will be asking a few questions that will help me in creating the gifts!

Since I absolutely ADORE to customize everything I make I will be...OOPS! Almost let one hint slip~{wink}.



Stay tuned for more...Have a most Enchanting Evening, my sweet friends~~~

Wordless Wednesday~The Master Painter~

Wednesday is here again, so please join me and others for Wordless Wednesday hosted this summer by Heather, of Simply Heather's Blog
This week's theme is Blogger's Choice~ I am continuing my own little celebration of honoring Magnificent Art Masters.

Today I am honoring some work by the Greatest Master of all....

Blue Monday~Works of Art

Happy Blue Monday hosted once again by Smiling Sally Be sure to visit Sally and all of the other participants for Blue Monday~~

Some beautiful works of art...




"The Blue Boy",1770
Thomas Gainsborough




"Hertiginnan Av Beaufort",1770
Thomas Gainsborough




"Giverney in Springtime",1900
Claude Monet




"Dance at The Moulin De La Galette", 1876
Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Location- Musee D'Orsay,Paris,France



"Young Girl with Stick", 1881
Camille Pissarro
Location-Musee D'Orsay, Paris,France

Just can't stay away...and a Thank you!

This is a delayed thank you to all of you who left such sweet and thoughtful comments on my Tuesday post. It was a post that I felt compelled to write and one that I hope would help or inspire someone else.

A new sweet friend honored me with an award a few days ago. Elaine of At Home n' About sent me this wonderful award...
Be sure to visit Elaine's blog...it is a wonderful delight of family, home, great recipes (especially the delish brownies) and inspiration of what is the most important moments in life. Thank you ever so much, Elaine!♥



I want to share this little episode with you....not for sympathy but as a caution.
Tuesday evening I went to the grocery store to buy a replacement coffee decanter that had just broken. As I was pushing my shopping cart by the milk area, I slipped on some milk that had spilled on the terrazzo floor. I fell all the way to the floor, hitting my left shin on the bottom bar of the shopping cart and landed on my right knee. OUCH!! Stunned, it took me a moment to start to get up.

As I gingerly started to pull myself up off the floor, I was amazed or shocked actually at the people that just walked by without saying a word or offering to help! One man and his little daughter were right behind me and looked me straight in the face and walked on. Another woman walked over the milk puddle on her tip-toes, less that a foot from me! Fortunately though another lady called out to me that she was getting the store manager.

What I am most grateful for is that I didn't break anything or didn't hit my face on the cart bar...Bruises will disappear and muscles spasms and pain can be relieved with meds and this is a good excuse to get caught up on rest. How is that for some lemonade from lemons?

So my caution sweet friends, just be careful around spilt milk!

Wordless Wednesday~~Prayers are needed...

Following my sweet friend Terry's lead, I am also diverting a bit from our usual Wordless Wednesday post, hosted by Heather of Simply Joyful Photos.




Please join me and many others in praying for Amy, daughter of Debbie

Amy's sweet aunt is Sherry of Country Wings in Phoenix.

Please click on Sherry's latest update about Amy, post-surgery and lift her (and her loving and beautiful family) up in prayer....

STRIVE to be Strong..Thank you Mrs. Kennedy Shriver

STRIVE: 1) to devote serious effort, energy; 2)to struggle in opposition


Today is day 2 in Chris' first week in the STRIVE program. STRIVE is a work training program offered here in Gwinnett county. It is the next step for Special Ed students after graduating from high school. The students are picked up in front of their homes and transported to their assigned jobs that are provided by area companies. There is a teacher at each location that teaches, supervises and supports the students at these job sites.

Our days start very early (apprx 4:50am) to help get Chris up and ready for his day. When the bus drove up in the cul-de-sac yesterday, he said, "Mom, I'm nervous." I told him he was ok and he would have a great day, I also prayed, "Please God, help him today." My prayers were answered as he came home happy early that afternoon.

This morning as we heard of the passing of Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, I explained to Chris who she was. She was the lady who founded and started Special Olympics. It was her idea. Chris, now 20 years old, has participated in Special Olympics since elementary school. In middle school he was on the Floor Hockey team. Chris had never played on a team other than PE. That very first year his team won the Gold Medal for Floor Hockey at the State Games. Special Olympics has taught and given him so much, more than words can say. We have kept every ribbon he has won.


We love both of our sons beyond measure. I do know that a child with a disability affects the whole family. I don't know why this happened but I do know that God chose us to be Chris' parents and we are forever grateful. It is not easy, but easy was not promised to us. It is worth it though and we do get through it, one day at a time.


Some of the things I continue to learn....

Strength comes in many forms.

We should take nothing for granted and always, always stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. I learned very early on to be a strong advocate for my son.

Be grateful for every moment.

Ask questions and let your voice be heard, EVERYONE DOES MATTER.

Be proud to of our great country and the Constitution it was founded on.

Prayer is Powerful and God is in Control.

Blue Monday~Sea Blue and Chocolat'

Welcome to Blue Monday, hosted by our fantabulous Smiling Sally~ BE sure to stop by and visit all the FUN blogs that participate every Blue Monday!

Inspired after reading Candy's Blue Monday blog, I wanted to share with you my Sea Blue and Chocolate bedroom, which is a work-in-progress!

Several years ago, we found this very heavy iron King size headboard at one of our favorite antique stores here in Lawrenceville~ Scotland Yard Antiques. It was painted a high gloss black with a big hole in the center. The storeowners were not sure how old it was but thought it would be great as a headboard.

At the time I just had a vague,abstract idea in my head (ever have one of those? I have them ALOT~ lol!)of how I wanted our boudoir to be. I found this bedding at Linens-n-Things and instantly fell in love. Fortunately Steven loved it too~(tee-hee!). Our sweet son, Michael painted the headboard this dark brown. So the search was on for just the right fabric to cover the padded headboard panel.



The headboard was a team effort...Steven cutting the plywood to fit into the opening and I stapled cut and then stapled the batting and fabric. Don't even ask how the headboard is attached....lol!

Anyway this is the completed look of the bed. Now onto finding just the right something-something for over the bed, then refinish the nightstands, etc..



.


The fun thing about this whole adventure is that Steven and I found the first piece together and we both loved it..and so it goes!

Just like the saying..."Success is not how much you have, but what you do with what you have."

The Queen of Pink in my House of Blue!

I just love this phrase...for all of us that are the 'only human girl' in our houses.

The other day this phrase was made true when I received this most magnificent award from the Duchess of Tea (roseteacottage.blogspot.com)!

Her Grace The Duchess of Tea, has appointed the following blogs and their charming writers as Honorary Nobles of the Most Excellent Order of the Blog Empire.

This insignia is in recognition and appreciation of the bloggers role as followers and daily commentators of Rose Tea Cottage and for having vision, knowledge, charm and humour on their own blogs. Naturally, this recognition is not transferable and is solely intended for the bloggers named herein.

Many, many thanks sweet Duchess from this new follower and admirer of your beautiful blog....

~~~We all love and deserve to feel 'like a Queen' for at least a moment or two from time to time....

Wordless Wednesday~All About Bella!

Happy Wordless Wednesday, hosted by our sweet Heather at Simply Joyful Photos.
This week's theme is bloggers choice so join us for some mid-week FUN!

Hurry!! Don't miss this Spectacular Giveawa!

One of my most favorite people in the whole wide world is having a Fantastic 200 Post Giveaway!! Be sure you go. right. now. and enter Kathi's of Vintage Inspired Jewelry

Her jewelry is breathtakingly beautiful and she is one of the most insprational people you will ever know!

Have fun!!

Blue Monday~ Old, New and Blue!

Welcome to Blue Monday...hosted by our fabulous Smiling Sally Be sure to stop by her blog and all the fun participants of Blue Monday!

About 20 years ago, while living in Tampa, we bought this British antique sideboard. The couple that owned the shop imported furniture and miscellaneous items from Great Britain.

Tucked inside one of the drawers was this pretty little coaster...(Old with Blue)


Last week I finished and mailed out my latest Lavender Sachet to one of my very Sweet customers and friend. I made this one in the colors she requested and also made it larger and just full of English Lavender! (New with Blue) It is now available in my shoppe