Month: May 2018


May
2018

My Quiet Place

categories: Home Projects, Living with MS

I have a place I go, a beautiful simple place, my quiet place.

I go there so many times throughout my days, to release stress, worry, loneliness, sadness, and sometimes to have a private cry.

It’s just a small outside corner at the back of my house.

An old, worn, chippy, picnic table, made into a potting bench for me, by my son on Mother’s Day, many years ago.

There is just something overwhelmingly calm about working with flowers, dirt, and old pots.

I am always adding fun things to this area, a sweet little bird, a garden sign, that is probably 20 years old, and of course, a banner of seed packets!  You all know I love to make banners!

How can anyone look at flowers and plants, and not believe in God?

It is rare when my husband complains about all the issues he deals with everyday, living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Yesterday, he told me the pain and burning in his right leg is spreading to his left leg.

What could I say or do?

He will not see a doctor, he does not believe they can help him, he knows there is no cure.

I went to my place of quiet to pray, as I often do, alone.

How can I help him?

I am thankful for this place I go, to sit sometimes, to be still, and know God is with us!

Thanks for letting me share such things, it helps!

Love all of you!

Hope you have that special place in your home, that is yours, to be still, to be quiet.

Have a blessed holiday weekend.

 


May
2018

Whimsy Flower Boxes

categories: Crafts, DIY, Flea Market Finds/Thrifting, Home Projects, Spring

Just loving the weather we are having!

I remember, in the cold of winter, looking out my kitchen window, longing for the warmth, the green, the colors, the sounds, of this glorious time of the year.

It’s here, I am so pleased and thankful!

Love to add whimsy things to my porch and yard, simple fun things.

Found this plain wood box at the thrift store some time back, stashed it away, I knew I would find a way to use it eventually.

I also found this old flower box in my garage, from years ago, when I displayed at craft fairs.

It was a popular item I made and sold some 20 years ago!

Both boxes just needed a bit of sanding, some paint, and little time to turn into two whimsy flower boxes.

Take a look at my old boxes now!

Love them!

The addition of a knob from Hobby Lobby gave the plain box, now painted white, that little extra it needed to be special.

The picket fence box didn’t need much, I still loved the primitive look from so many years ago.  Just repaired the mini birdhouse on the fence, sanded and cleaned.

Adding flowers was the final touch.

Oh my gosh, to me, they are so beautiful!

Do fun, whimsy things today!

Giggle and love today!

See ya!


May
2018

Living Paycheck to Paycheck

categories: My Simple Home, Random Thoughts

“Living paycheck to paycheck”, a phrase we hear folks say from time to time.

This phrase has a kinda silly, crazy, meaning for me!

Money is so very tight for me and my husband since I stopped working.

Of course, having extra money is not the most important part of our lives.  That is why my decision to stop working to spend more time with my husband, as he deals with a progressive disease, was the right thing to do.

I am learning to do without a bunch of extra things.  It is really not so hard.

We are on a budget, but we both are allowed a bit of spending money each month, my husband saves his, I use mine for my hair, lunches out, thrift store visits and such.

So, at the end of each month, right before “payday”, I see what I have left.

If there is something beautiful I have been wanting, and my “end of the month money” allows, I treat myself!

This was my latest “end of the month money” purchase.

A beautiful canvas of an angel holding a baby.

The cost was $30 at Kirkland’s.

It was special to me when I saw it, reminding me immediately of the day my son was born, holding him in my arms for the first time.

I prayed to our Lord that day, “please send a special guardian angel to always watch over him”.

The colors are soft and lovely, I really love it!

The canvas has found a home above my painted gray, thrift store table.  So beautiful together.

Tuesday was the day before my monthly spending money was replenished!

I had $5 in my wallet, all was good!

Love you all!

May the angels watch over all of you, and those you love.

Have a blessed Sunday.

 

 


May
2018

A Last Minute Gift Idea

categories: DIY, Mother's Day

Sharing a sweet, thoughtful, simple, gift idea with everyone today.

A gift with meaning, to give for almost any occasion, even a last minute Mother’s Day gift!

Taking photos is a big part of all of our lives today, so for this gift, simply choose a favorite photo, a double frame, a quote, saying, poem, or in one of my examples, song lyrics.

Choose words related to the photo, or words that have sentimental value to the recipient.

Since tomorrow is Mother’s Day, I made this one for myself.

My favorite photo of my son, very small, framed with a beautiful thought on having a son.

It sits in my bedroom, next to a photo of me and my husband, on our wedding day, the three of us, many years ago, my family.

Oh my, love it!

You can see the simplicity of this gift idea.

Here’s one I made for my sister and brother-in-law, for their anniversary.

Such a silly photo taken on a family vacation.

We all had to make tin foil hats as part of a game. So many laughs!

I paired the photo with song lyrics that captured the photo, song lyrics, that have special meaning to my sister.

Selected a whimsy font when I typed the lyrics, whimsy and fun like the photo.

It’s so cute!

My last example, a birthday gift, expressing love for a special little boy, a sweet boy, my nieces love so much.

The little boy, the son of one of their best friends, has been in their lives since he was born.

Again, I hope that you all can see how simple, and easy.

Print the photo, the words, and frame, that’s it!

What I really love about giving this as a gift, is that hopefully, the recipient sees the thoughtfulness, and love, that went into putting it together.

It’s a keepsake!

Love, family, friends, that’s what this idea is about!

Please don’t forget your Moms tomorrow, and those ladies in your life who are special.

So much love in my heart for all today!