SPRINGTIME FUN ON THE FRONT PORCH

THIS PAST WEEKEND THE TEMPERATURES
HERE GOT UP TO A BALMY 70 DEGREES...
THATS ARE WARMEST DAY YET. BUT TODAY
ITS BACK TO COLD AND MAYBE EVEN SOME
SNOW..... BUT IT WAS TIME TO "SPRING DRESS"
THE FRONT PORCH.
I LOVE HEARING THE SOUNDS OF THE
BIRDS ....JUST LISTENING BRINGS JOY
TO MY SOUL....
IN THE EVENINGS....I ENJOY LIGHTING MY
LITTLE LANTERN FOR A COZY TIME TO
SIT AND LISTEN TO THE CRICKETS.....
I PULLED MY "NEW PAINTED RED CHAIR"
OUT ON MY PORCH. I AM LOOKING FOR
A SMALL SIGN TO HANG ABOVE IT FOR
THE SUMMER AND WILL PLANT "RED
GERANIUMS" IN MY PLANTER....
I FOUND THESE PILLOWS FOR $1 EACH LAST
WEEK. THEY FIT MY RED AND WHITE THEME.
MY GRANDDAUGHTER HELPED HER GRANDMA
WITH SWEEPING UP THE LEAVES; AND PUTTING
THEM IN A BIG BASKET.....
OH MY........WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THESE
LITTLE ROCKS???
I LOVE THESE GARDEN GLOVES BUT THEY
SEEM A LITTLE LARGE???


I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We were taking advantage of the warm day and mowed the lawn; raked out odds and ends; cleaned and tided the garage; picked up all the sticks and branches; and then enjoyed sitting on the front porch just talking and watching
our granddaughter.

I love to clean and rid out and make things fresh and ready for Spring. On the way to church Sunday morning I was sooo excited because I saw not one but TWO BLUE HERONS! In case, you dont understand this you have to know that I love seeing Blue Herons. This is one of the signs that tells me God Loves Me! In fact, my son Joshua helped start this blog for me and put a Blue Heron sign on my picture for my blog; knowing that was a sign telling me of Gods love.

I call my site; " A few of my favorite things"..... I have many things that bring joy into my life. Silly things sometimes like; an "Old wooden chair" beside the road. I just love to pick it up; paint it and use it somewhere in my home. I also enjoy; old l950's childrens books or old books that have meaning. I enjoy many vintage items; aprons; old crocks (the kind you can mix your muffins in or make a beautiful dish full of mashed potatoes. I enjoy birds; nature; babies and children. I enjoy the colors of barn red; mustard yellow; lime greens; robin egg blues; pinks; and soft browns. I enjoy old buildings and the character and history behind them. I love simple white steeples against the blue skies. I enjoy old hymns and singing them in my church. I enjoy the sound of crickets in the evening and watching fireflies dotting the dark sky.....
I enjoy my family and each one of their ways they love. I enjoy sitting with my husband on my
front porch just "being" and enjoy each others company and the outside.......


There are so many things for us to enjoy in this life ...we just need to look for them.

I pray you have a wonderful week enjoying your favorite things in your life.

GOOD MORNINGS AND KITCHEN STUFF......

I , like my mother seem to spend most of
my time at home in the kitchen....Beginning
in the early mornings ; putting on the coffee;
taking out items to prepare breakfast; cleaning
up; wiping down and having the kitchen ready
for the next meal.
I have been trying to stay on a "healthy eating
plan and have discovered a delicious new way
to have my oatmeal......
My daughter purchased these "berries" at
Walmart to make her "Trifle" for Easter.
I added some to my oatmeal along with a couple
sprinkles of almonds and a dab of healthy butter
and what a difference it made. And she got them
for $2 on sale. They hold alot of berries!!

The day before Easter I had made some of
my "mamas fold over cookies dough" and put it
aside in the refrigerator. I decided not to use it
that day but thought I would take it out and make
up some nice plain cookies to be decorated later.
I could put these up in my freezer to use for "others"
as needed this month. I am so glad God can use
something as simple as "flour; sugar; butter; and
vanilla" to bless someone else's life.

I just picked out a "glass" ( isnt that the best
way ?) with a shape I liked and cut out my
cookies......
Finally, they were done and ready to be iced.
I think I will use "a pretty bright pink and lime
greens" in Royal Icing to finish. They dont
look like much now but after they are covered
with the finishing touch they will be ready to go.




Good morning, good morning,
We've talked the whole night through,
Good morning, good morning to you.
Good morning, good morning,
It's great to stay up late,
Good morning, good morning, to you.'

LAUNDRY DAY..............WASH; DRY AND IRON

IRONING DAY..................
I LOVE WHEN CLOTHES DRY IN THE WIND
ON A CLOTHESLINE.......


I have spent most of my day working on laundry and ironing. I know in this day and age the work of ironing is becoming obsolete.

But....because life has been busier lately I felt I had gotten behind on this task. I know ;...you can take things out of the dryer and most of the newer fabrics you can shake and hang up ready to go. Then of course you can send your things out to the dry cleaner. When my husband wore dress shirts everyday he preferred a nice light starch that the dry cleaners could give so of course I had them sent out.

But.........with trying to save our pennies today I try and do the task of all of the ironing.
I just love when a garment ; especially cotton is pressed smooth and fresh . I love hanging it
up on a hanger all ready for whatever needed. I iron my husbands shirts; casual pants; my tops and skirts; and my pillowcases ( love the way they feel and smell). If I need to I might press
a tablecloth or linens for special occasions.

My son and daughters all learned to iron when they were younger thus made sure the garments they were wearing were pressed and neat.

Ironing doesn't have to be a drudgery if you keep up with it; maybe use a pretty lilac linen spray; or enlist the help of your family. Set a day or time when you can easily get to the task at hand. Even the oldest garment can look fresh and NEW when you take time to press some life back into it!

EASTER MEMORIES....THIS AND THAT

Making baskets for others.............
What did I find in my basket grandma?....
A beautiful Fruit Trifle my daughter made to take to her Sunday School class. She said they ate it all!!! ..... Making the Trifle at 10 PM at night. I helped her some but she did the most. We laughed and had a great time doing this together.
Pasta Salad made for Easter Dinner.... Did you boil any Eggs?? We did for deviled eggs for our Easter dinner.
Grandpa ( He is so handsome) and sweetest girl all ready for Easter Sunday church. " Now baby we will get ready for Easter dinner" I love being a feminine girl all ready for church.

I pray you all had a nice Easter. We had some little events like my son in law getting an abscess tooth and having a tooth pulled right before Easter and then his wife ( my daughter)getting the flu and having to spend the day in bed. Others were busy with their things so my sweetest girl and I busied ourselves getting things ready for Easter dinner.

She helped her grandma make ham; deviled eggs; cookie dough; brownies ( for mommys Sunday School class); pasta salad; mashed potatoes and gravy; and other things.

My son and daughter in law had a beautiful sunrise service at their church and and then the morning service and a large brunch for all to enjoy. The men of the church helped serve and clean up!! My other daughter had her friend over and they made a huge breakfast for their Sunday School class full of good things .
I am so thankful my grown children do for others.

The weather was sky blue here and off to church we went. It was such a nice service and the orchestra played so beautifully.

Now back to normal things in life. I am thankful for the good things God gave. I pray you had a blessed day too.

A BUSY WEEK.......A MOTHERS WORK IS NEVER DONE

SWEETEST GIRL TAKING CARE OF HER
BABIES....SHE WAS ROCKING THEM
BACK AND FORTH....
SUNNY AND WARM IS THE WEATHER
BUSY HERE AND THERE TIDYING THE HOUSE
"LET'S SEE WHAT I HAVE PLANNED
FOR EASTER DINNER...........


It's so wonderfully sweet to watch my granddaughter play and enjoy life. I enjoy seeing how one little life can be taught and trained and loved to care for the many things she will become in
her life.

Easter is coming soon. For many this is a time with family or friends. For some it may be an "empty nest" and plans just for two of you. For some it may be a time of heartache ; time spent in the hospital; time spent alone without a spouse for whatever reasons; time of not knowing where a child or loved one may be spending their Easter. But.........its always so good
to know we have a friend in Jesus. He is my friend through thick and thin. He is there when the news is good or bad. He is there with His bright and shining light through the darkness of days.

I have been watching my little bush in my front yard. Its tiny buds were barely a light green a few weeks ago; then little by little they began to burst forth; and TODAY they are now in a beautiful tiny white flower. Oh..........the endurance some of us must go through. The step day by day until the LIGHT breaks through...........

As I watched my little granddaughter learning each day. Someday she will be like many mothers and begin to prepare for her Easter Dinner with her family. As a grandmother.....I want to try and show an example for her to see and enjoy. This Easter what traditions will you be
passing on???

EASTER BASKETS......

EASTER BASKETS HAVE BEEN A TRADITION
IN MY FAMILY FOR MANY YEARS.....
Back in February, I found a sale on Easter Baskets and bags of Easter grass. I knew in my heart that someone somewhere might need these little baskets filled with love.......
I have all my baskets sitting out; ready to be filled and to go.............
Its a kind of tradition that has been in my family growing up and a joy to children and others at this season.............


It doesnt have to cost too much to fill a basket. You might fill it with some pretty cut out cookies and a pink napkin. You may fill it will candy; a book; a small toy; a baseball; a plant ( for older ladies); or anything you like.

The basket doesnt have to go just to children . You could take a basket to a nursing home; a hospital; an older person; or a friend.

Its a basket filled with "joy" for someone else to enjoy. And.......isnt it fun to bring some "joy" into someone's world??

EASTER 'S ON IT' S WAY............STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

I PURCHASED THE MOST WONDERFUL
STRAWBERRIES FROM "SAM'S CLUB"
THEY WERE HUGE AND MADE A BOWL
FULL.
I ALWAYS SLICE THEM UP AND SPRINKLE
SUGAR ON TOP ( NOW I USE SPLENDA)
I THEN TAKE A FORK ( A POTATO MASHER WORKS
BEST) AND PRESS THEM DOWN TO MAKE
A NICE SWEET JUICE FOR LATER...


OUR GRANDDAUGHTER ENJOYED TASTING
SOME STRAWBERRIES WHILE GRANDMA
WAS GETTING THEM READY FOR THE PARTY.
RUTH'S BIRTHDAY DESSERT. STRAWBERRY
SHORTCAKE. WE SERVED IT ON ANGEL FOOD
CAKE TOPPED OF COURSE WITH WHIPPED CREAM.


Yesterday was my daughter Ruths birthday. We had her favorite dinner. Taco Bell. I went ahead and decorated the table in lime greens with pink paper plates and pink napkins. I then set some small lime green tea lights out for atmosphere. I then took my glass cake stand and put the ( store bought) angel food cake on top of it . When it was time to serve the dessert I used my pretty floral rose glass plates for a pretty dessert. Why do we go to all that trouble for take out and a birthday??? Because I want everyone to feel "special" on their special day whether its a pizza and pop or a nice homemade dinner.

A godly lady taught me many years ago to give God your best. He gives me His best everyday. As I see that beautiful sun rise up above the clouds each and every morning I cant help to say thank you for His best. I see His best in the buds on my trees as they begin to burst forth with a sparkling pink flower. I see His best in the eyes of a little child as they take each breath; and in their own words sing a sweet little song as they twirl around the room. I see His best in the courage of hearts of many a person as they face battles of cancer; loneliness; heartache or pain.

I dont always succeed at giving my best. But.......if ( with Gods strength) I can give to each task at hand I am overjoyed.

Have a great day ahead........