glitches

Last Thursday, I got a new computer at work.

No matter how good your IT guy is, there always

seems to be glitches in the transfer of programs.

Settings revert back to default, icons don't make it

to the desktop, files get put where you can't find them!!

It was a little frustrating and I spent Monday morning

standing around waiting while the computer guy

and the scanner guy tried to get the "bugs" out.

But, there was nothing to do but be patient and trust

that things were going to get better!

Yesterday, we finally got everything restored.

 The computer is faster and the graphics

are better....so, it's all good!

Some of my days have "glitches"...

things don't go as expected.

My schedule changes, I don't have what I need

 to make dinner, the dishwasher breaks,

I cut my finger opening a can!

Those things can be frustrating and can spoil a day!

Many times, there's not much you can do about it ...

except be patient and hope it's gonna get better.

God says in Romans 12:12,

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation..."

Sounds like a good plan to me! :-)

a work of art!

I guess it was about a year ago, I started hearing about

"Truth Be Told" parties.

I saw pictures on Facebook of ladies holding their finished

paintings and wondered..."How'd they do that?"

I was invited to a couple, but they were a little pricey.

This past week, I saw there was an open party at one of our

local churches. I liked the design they were going to do and

it was $30 instead of the $50 I had seen before.

So, I asked my daughter if she would join me and

she said..."Yes!"

Our instructions said to wear clothes you didn't mind
 getting paint on.

I am a messy painter, so I did just that!

We were given a canvas, paints, brushes...and snacks! :-)

We chose our colors and painted the background.

Then we got a round template to trace for our circles.

Next, we painted the edges and pulled some of the paint
 from the top and bottom down to give it a distressed look.

Then, we outlined the circles.

When the paint was dry, we were given the words which
 we tracedwith carbon paper onto our canvas.

(This is my friend, Deborah) 

After painting the letters with a brush, we outlined them and
wrote the scripture with a paint pen.

There were about a dozen ladies there and it was neat to see
all the color combinations. They all looked great!

 

Here we are with ours ...all finished!

Now, I understand how it works!

We had a great time, but we were worn out when we were done!

Being creative is hard work!! ha! ha!

The woman who started this is a "real" artist who was asked

to teach "wannabes" how to combine attractive wall art with
 God's Word for their homes.
There are 13 artists in Georgia who do the parties,

 and they are about to move into Florida. 

They do many designs...some more complicated than others.

They also do free parties in ladies' prisons, women's shelters, etc.

It makes me happy to think our fees help pay for that ministry.

So, if you ever get invited to a party,

remember that I said...

"If I can do it, anybody can!!"

"spiffing" things up!

Happy Friday to you!

It has been a busy week...

catching up at work after being off for two weeks

and playing with the grands!

And that...plus cooking...is about all I've done!

But the week before I went to Tenn, I got some projects done.

I wanted some throw pillows for my hope chest, but

I wasn't sure if I was going to make them or buy them.

When I went on the get-away with my friend, we stopped at

a few yard sales. At one of them, I found pillow forms for $1! 

That pretty much made up my mind for me!

Before shopping for fabric, I decided to look through my "left-overs". 

As it turned out, all I had to buy was the two embellishments!

A friend gave me this clock when we were doing our remodeling.

I already had the clock I wanted to hang on the wall, so I decided

to lay this one on the coffee table. 

 I liked it there, but it was light green...not really one of my colors.

I have been looking at it for a year and finally decided I

would like red better.

So, I went to the garage and found the can of paint

 I used for the hope chest.

Two coats later...

Voila!!

 

I haven't really put much thought into decorating the sofa table.

But I bought the milk glass candle holders...$10 for the pair

and that got my mind working.

I already had the ivy, the family picture, and my daughter had the

bird cage and was happy to get it out of her way.

I found the red bird at Hobby Lobby...marked down from

$14 to $4.75 and snapped it up!

I was happy with the results!

My daughter and I are going to a fun art class tonight

where you bring home a finished project.

So, if it's as easy as they say and the results are as good

as they say...maybe you will see mine! :-)

little e

Our Little E is growing!

Her hair is getting longer and curlier, like her mom's!

She is learning to sing...lots of songs!

She got these stickers for singing "Jesus Loves the Little Children"

to a captive audience at the check-out at Kroger. :-)

 She decided she was ready to use the potty and,

within 2 weeks, she was almost accident free.

Her reward was Mango, the fish!

She is learning to pray and loves going to church.

She likes watching "Daniel Tiger", "Winnie the Pooh",

"The Wheels on the Bus"... but Mom limits her TV time.

When Mom asks her how many episodes she wants to watch, 

she says, "Two!" Mom says, "How 'bout one?"

"Okay." You can't blame a girl for trying!! :-)

 She loves her "baby brudder"...

and he adores her...
just like the rest of us!! :-)

beans, tomatoes, and peppers...oh my!

I've talked about our yard being shady...

and we like it that way!

But, there is one spot in our backyard, where we

had to cut a tree down, that gets sun most of the day.

So, that's where Hubby plants his little garden.

These are blue lake green beans...

up close!

He picked a handful of beans yesterday...

it might be  a while before we have enough to cook!

His better boy tomato plants all "caged up"!

 

Can't wait to have some fresh ones for BLT's!!

 

This is one of the Cayenne Pepper plants. He canned 20 or more pints

last year. He and our son have thoroughly enjoyed them.

Hope these plants are as productive!

He enjoys piddling in his garden and with a layer of dried leaves

on the ground, he doesn't have to do much weeding.

His plan is to do a lot of harvesting!! :-)

a colorful welcome

After two weeks in Tenn, I walked back through

 this door today!

I am so thankful for the opportunity to spend such a special

time with our son's family. It was so sweet to be able to help

and to get to know our new little grandson.

I whispered, "Gran loves you!"over and over in his ear.

Since I am not sure when I will see him again, 

I am hoping he will remember my voice.

I know, I know...he's only a week old, but a Gran

can hope, can't she?

 Hubby did a good job of holding down the fort!

Our flowers, bushes and plants are looking

colorful and healthy.

I ran around snapping pics just as a rain shower started!

It didn't last long, but it made the air smell so fresh.

 

Aren't you glad God made colors? 

I think it was one of His best ideas!

I've probably said this before, but our hydrangea grew from

a cutting from Hubby's grandad's bush.

So, it is very special to us and I love the shade of blue!

This pretty little stuff comes back every year...bigger!

It fills in an empty place by our patio.

I can't for the life of me remember it's name, but I'm sure glad

I bought it three years ago!

 

We bought our house from the Thompson's back in 1976.

They planted a single row of day lilies in our front yard.

They bless us with their bright yellow arrival every May!

They're like a gift from the former owners. :-)

I got a little teary when it was time to leave our 

Little H, but as Dorothy (Wizard of Oz) said,

"There's no place like home!"

And, God's rainbow of colors welcomed me

beautifully! :-)

news from Tenn

Well, it has been a sweet visit here in Tenn!

Our Little H was born on the 21st and came home

on the 23rd. His sisters and I decided to put

balloons on the mailbox to welcome him home!!

On Monday, my son decided to tackle a project that

had been waiting for a while.

They bought this table at a used furniture store.

The plan was to paint it and use it as a breakfast table 

in their kitchen.

I got before pictures...after he had taken it apart...

It's an Ethan Allen and they only paid $25!!

Brand name chalk (not chalkboard) paint can be expensive,
 but we learned a while back that you can make
 your own with paint, water, and plaster of paris. 
So that's what he did.

I told him I would help, but I really just
 cheered him on and took photos!
Truthfully, it was a one person job. :-)

It goes on quick and easy, but the first coat looks streaky...

instructions warned us about that.

But, the second coat was smooth and the third...flawless! 

And it dries fast, so it only took a couple of hours to complete.

It looks great with their bench seating and the color matches 

a piece of artwork on their wall...

and, no, I didn't think to get a picture of that!

He was so happy to get it done, in the kitchen,

and out of the garage!

When I was expecting Little H's dad 35 years ago,
my mom made several receiving blankets for him.
They were soft and she crocheted

around the edges. I managed to keep one of them and

gave to Little H at the hospital.

Here he is, wrapped in it sleeping in his bassinet.

I know my mom would be so pleased to know that her

great grandchild was using something she so lovingly made.

It makes my heart glad, too!

Thanks for all your well wishes and compliments...

you are faithful friends!

I will be headed home on Sat...

more from the home-front soon!