Friday Pretties

I participated in a valentine apron swap that Sue from Country Pleasures organized.  I was paired with Gloria and want to share with you her very generous gifts that arrived this week.  Gloria sent the most beautiful red gingham apron that her Mother made many years ago.  It is stunning and the workmanship is outstanding.  What a treasure!

Gloria made me the most darling sewing pocket.  The colors match my sewing room perfectly.  It is so fun to see all the little treasures tucked inside.

I also found the cutest valentine of a little girl who peeks out from behind the chair when you move her as well as this darling notepad set.

As if all that wasn't enough, she included the most beautiful handmade rose soap that a friend of hers made.  Do you see the real rose buds in the soap?  It smells heavenly.  Thank you so much, Gloria, for such a heart-felt valentines gift.  I'm sending out yours today, so sorry for not having it to you sooner with being ill the past few days.  What a blessing your gift was to me!

For more Friday Pretties

visit Joyce at

I Love Pretty Little Things

Hugs,

Bedazzled

icicle as tall as I am

Thank you for all the get well wishes.  My fever finally broke sometime during the night.  I can hear and breathe again.  I woke up hungry.  I'm taking all these as very good signs that I'm on the mend.  Seven straight days of nastiness coupled with rest, peace and a time for reading God's word and pondering life.  Some good learning can occur when you're flat on your back and all the craziness of trying to do all and be all is stripped away.  There is a clarity of mind in these instances and I was willing to embrace it.

This morning, when I took my daughter to school at 7:15, the car thermometer registered 5 degrees.  Seriously.  I must tell you, it was beautiful outside.  The snow was glittering like God had reached down and bedazzled it, and he had.  When it's this cold and the clouds part, you get a blue and pink sky like you've never seen.  You can catch a glimpse of this sky in my first picture.  It honestly took my breath away, one for beauty and two for the bitter cold!  Living in the northern states, it is so common by now to be lamenting over yet another day of winter.  I know, because I do it.  But I was reminded this morning of the beauty in winter.  When things seem endlessly dry and brittle and, quite frankly, dead, there truly is something going on.  God is at work, we just have to look alittle harder to see it.  Once seen, you can't help but be thankful.  

With joy,

Sniffling...

photo from flickr

I am, "down for the count" as the saying goes.  I've managed to catch my husbands flu bug.  I'll be back as soon as my head stops hurting.  Blessings to all!

Hugs,

Sunday Scripture

"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom

or the strong man boast of his strength

or the rich man boast of his riches,

but let him who boasts boast about this:

the he understands and knows me,

that I am the Lord who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight, declares the Lord."

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Friday Pretties

Things that are speaking to my heart today...

A gift from Joyce

Tablecloth, a gift from Trish

A rose and vintage buttons

my house dipped in whip cream

remembering my furry friend

For more Friday Pretties

visit Joyce at

I Love Pretty Little Things

Hugs,

Zero Calorie Cupcake

The snow is falling softly outside, the winds have finally died down.  I'm trying to keep my fingers busy knitting or sewing so I don't nibble at food all day.  What is it about snow storms that make us want to bake?  I must have had cupcakes on my mind because this little hat was the first of my creations.

My new machine and I have been whipping out log cabin blocks.  Before I put the green strips on, they look like Valentine blocks instead of Christmas.  I love the cheery gingham!

I have fifty of these to make and I'm pretty sure I will  have that done today, that is if I stay out of the kitchen.  I've already made the Pioneer Woman's chicken spaghetti and potroast so I wouldn't have to cook for the next couple of days, but goodness me, cupcakes sound delicious!

This is the view from my back porch.  We haven't even seen a snow plow yet.  The storm is suppose to continue until seven tonight.  I can't imagine what that amount of snow will look like, but I'm about to find out!

With joy,

My New Friend

This is the view from my sewing room.  Icicles as thick as my arm.  The forecast is 10-15 inches of snow tonight.  My husband is home sick and there won't be any school tomorrow.  Dear Lord have mercy.  To keep me from going insane, a friend has come to play...

I could just sit and look at the picture on the box.  Maybe I'll hang it on the window to remind me that what's outside won't last forever (please don't last forever).  I love the illustration on the box and "Keeping the Word Sewing".  I have alot of learning to do, me and my new Sapphire, but I can't think of any better way to amuse myself during a blizzard.

I completed a gift for a special little one year old.  Don't you love self-striping yarn?  You just knit and knit and the pattern unfolds before your eyes.  What's the best thing to do during a blizzard?  Keep the news turned off and your fingers busy!

Blessings,