FEBRUARY ♡♡♡

 Welcome February and all the love it entells....

 We are enjoying 20 inches of snow...but the warmth of being inside with a pot of soup on makes it bearable.

 I love to celebrate holidays and do it on a budget. I purchased a bright pink poster board and my grandgirls and I cut out big hearts for the windows♡ lace doilies. .and a banner too!

I then went all around the house looking for pink..yellow..or red items.. I used these items to bring a touch of Valentines to a room

Banners on the fireplace..candles...whisps of flowers in yellow

 Then...desserts...easy too...Brownies filled with pink icing made of marshmellow fluff..coolwhip..and a few drops of fun red food coloring

 I also bring out small boxes found on clearance or thrift shoos

Whatever..i do i make it simple...make it fun..enjoy♡

A NEW DAY

I love the end of the year past and taking ....moments to remember....the good things and maybe lessons and strengths learned.

But life is about today....and walking toward tomorrow with Him..

HOLIDAYS....

HOLIDAYS COMING.....

I love the scurry of the holidays...the.the change of seasons and the cool wind that softly blows across my nose..it makes my soul happy

Its a time to think of Others....this doesnt have to be expensive..or a fancy gift..it seems if I ask God who needs encouragement from Him...He easily sends them my way...A box or simple brown bag of homemade cookies...a pretty hand sanitizer...sitting a bag of holiday baking supplies out in a corner of your church...lunch room at work or elsewhere and placing FREE on it will make someones day. A pay ahead Starbucks coffee or any $5 gift can buy a quick treat.

I love making my home festive and bringing aromas of the holiday in...But im also for making this time Simple. Soups on the stovetop...Crockpots of Stew or Roast..Italian Meatballs and a cheeseball and crackers...Shortbread cookies...Simple Pies fill the air..

My everything dough on my sidebar..

Cranberry Salad

Lead me Lord

Old Linens

These are a few of my favorites things

FALLS IN THE AIR...A DAY MAKING MEMORIES

 I could hear the ducks flying overhead..I began to see the days getting shorter...the sun had moved oh so slightly did i miss it?  Fall was in the air!

As i grow older...i seem to STOP and take notice of His beauty..of simple things
A trip to the country....down the road...i pulled the window down to feel the cool wind against my face....a turn to a farmhouse...with the names of apples printed out on its red shed. Bags given, boxes to fill....my grandgirls jumping out on the van with sweatshirts and boots running through the talls grasses and beautiful trees filled with apples.

I pause..and an old barn now half torn down stands against the blue sky in a reddish brown tin with memories of families that have run these grounds before...off to home ..baskets full of fun. Apples fill the air with the aroma of a new season to come. Memories to be made..

Apple pies, apple crisp,  memories for a new generation.
**recipe on my sidebar

Thankfulness for A Day...for a time to enjoy..make new memories

WELCOME FALL...............

                                                         

Welcome..........Starting again with my blog....a little time off ......but I will begin again .
   I hope to bring encouragement to those who read or use this blog for ideas on meals; your home or everyday life....
   Its the start of Fall season here and I cannot help but LOVE the beginning of a new season.
   I love traditions.. Some old. Some new. Frankly as we grow....life changes and we need to add
   add "new " traditions as well as the old.
   I also realize FALL isnt the same all over the country. For me the leaves change colors...the temperature begins to cool... the birds and ducks begin their journeys down south......
   But the many...the climate stays the same but FALL is still in the air....

   Some of the things we have enjoyed is decorating for Fall.
You can use just a few items to make a room ready for FALL. I love BERRIES and bittersweet on wreaths or stuck around any item in the room. I bring in pretty throws * I find at thrift stores ....in warm colors. I change a few pillows around to sing Fall is here.....
I add candles or use tarts of Fall aromas to fill the house...
 I even bring up a pretty chair * had for years I bought for a few dollars that is just for the season...
  I may add a few inexpensive hand towels in the bathroom and even a wax plug in and some nice smelling hand soap * $1 at the dollar store.
  I have wreaths on my door all year...so I may use the same one... add something to make it match the season...
  I also add mums for color on my front porch.....
  Decorating is celebrating....and enjoying the beauty of the seasons!

I  love Twinkle lights.....

You can use an old pillow and cover it in a pretty Fall fabric....

A simple mum and pumpkin 

WHO'S MINDING MY NEST?

WHO'S MINDING MY NEST???

MY NEST.....

My hubby and I love watching birds.........in fact, about a month ago (when I was visiting with
my sister) I kept my eye on her little wooden bluebird house out in her yard. We were praying
for a new little family to come and make it their home for the summer.......this past week those little bluebirds came to my mind..........

This past week I had several things that kept me on the go.........I was home; gone again; home; gone again; and home for a short time again..........Sometimes we just cannot be aroundour homes all day long and life calls for us to care for many things.........But.........at the end of my week I looked down in my laundryroom and thought to myself..........looks like I need to some extra effort in my ironing pile and that evening I did........ It frustrated me to have to do "pressing" late in the evening. My physical body did it but my heart wasnt..........

.But then I thought " Who's minding this nest?".............

It wasnt others fault I was having extra things to do all week. In fact, it was the time I was allotted in life to use as I saw fit. I just needed to STOP and think about my schedule and time

. Our pastor just taught on Time Management.I pulled out the paper I had written my notes on and reviewed.Time is a Matter of Pursuit. - God is my pursuit. Give Him my time. He will extend your time.

Time is a Matter of Purpose. - What is it that you want to accomplish in your lifeWhat is your Focus - My God; my husband; my family Dont allow anything to take you away from that focus - phone ; TV; too much chatting

Does what I am doing help me toward my purpose in life?- Negative things

What can I do that no one else can do?- for my husband; my children; those in my path

What can you do that you can train someone else to do?- need help; train someone 


I tried this and it was very helpful.
I put things that were a matter of purpose first. I tried to keep focused on what each day brought........

. This is a formula that I will keep working on day by dayAs I was watching the little bluebirds come back and forth to build their nest; I waited in anticipation for them to settle and live in the "wooden feeder" but they were gone too many times and you know what? ............another bird came in to live and the "little bluebird" never came back.........They lost it! I want to remember who's minding my nest?

TALKING WITH MY FRIEND....

  I remember a few years ago....i loved going to a friends front porch. She had a swing and a couple of old chairs sitting on her white screened in front porch. Upon arrival I was always greeted like she was glad I came and she would go into her kitchen and return to the porch with ice cold lemonade. We would chat, laugh, and visit about our lives..  I loved our time together and always felt good when I left with a happy outlook on life. My friend has since moved from that old house but when I drive near it somedays ...I remember!   Now a days my best friend can sit with me anywhere...anytime! I love to chat with Him about anything...I love that He is always there ready to listen. He even sends me notes and things to encourage me along life's way.  
Im thankful for friends God sends my way but truly more thankful for His Love and friendship everyday!