GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

  You saw in a couple of posts back, that we cleaned out the garage looking for all my Easter and Spring decorations.  I started with the kitchen.  The "red" is gone, and "yellow" is in.  I look forward to this every year.   It feels like it's brand new when you only use it for one season a year.   I can't remember how long I have had this little carrot/rabbit that fits over a doorknob.  I had to get my glue gun out and put his little paws back in place.  He's good for a few more years.   Decided to use some purple and lavenders in the living room so a swag over the mirror to match the quilt my friend gave me for Christmas. The quilt is filled with hats and purses and beautiful purples and lavenders.  I just wanted to show it off, so I put in on the back of the love seat.  I have to find a few more things now for the coffee table and desk top to go with this theme.  It's a new one for me this ye...

SINGING IN MY SECRET GARDEN   The Song that meant so much to me in my journey to intimacy with the Lover of my Soul was a song I had learned as a child.  It took on new meaning as I spent time in the early morning hours in my Garden Vineyard.   I come to the garden alone While the dew  is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses.   And he Walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.   He speaks and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing.   And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am his own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.   This is what was happening in the early morning hours at a little glass table in the corner of a livi...

  We were cleaning out the garage as I was missing some of my Easter Decoration, and knew they had to be somewhere in the "back" of the garage, where everything I'm looking for HIDES! Going through an old trunk, I found my wedding gown in a plastic bag.  It only seemed fitting that I should find it now a few months before our 52nd Anniversary.   If I fast from now to June, I think I could fit into it. HaHa.   It's certainly has had its "Wedding Moments".  I wore it in 1961, a friend of mine later in the 60's and then our oldest daughter Michel wore it 20 years later!  It's amazing how well it's held up since after the last wedding it was never sealed in a vacuum bag.  Maybe I should have it cleaned.  Who knows if I ever have a great great granddaughter, she might be interested in wearing an "Antique". Now I've got to put everything back in the garage.  But it wasn't in vain...I did fine ALL MY EASTER AND SPRING DE...

  Like the layers of an onion, my relationship and friendship with Elizabeth bring new stories and insights every time we visit.  I'm sharing my life and stories with her, and it turn she is now sharing more and more of her life with me.  She had told me about making dolls, but today her son had brought some for me to see.    This one is extremely fragile, and she was hesitant to even let me hold it.  She told me how she and several of her friends had taken classes to learn doll making.  This would be over 20 to 30 years ago. This is a porcelain doll and the dress is layers of lace, then layers of a substance to make it look and feel like glass.  You just can't see the detail with my camera.  You can see the size by Elizabeth's hand holding it.  She is just an exquisite piece of work. This little boy doll is about 10 inches high and his name is "Hans".  The clothes and shoes were all hand made by Elizabeth...

Meyer Lemon Buttermilk Tart   I love getting a new recipe from a blogger friend.  Sue gave me this one, and I'm really excited as my neighbor has a Meyer Lemon tree and keeps my basket full.  I've tried several recipes using these delicious juicy lemons and this one's delicious.   We ate a slice warm with a cup of coffee, and it was really nice and smooth.  I did refrigerate it and tomorrow we'll see how it tastes cold.   It may even be better.  I'll let you know. MEYER LEMON TART ·          Ingredients: 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 3/4 cup sugar 1 TBSP. heavy cream 3/4 cup buttermilk 4 TBSP. melted butter 1 1/2 TBSP fresh Meyer lemon juice zest of 1 Meyer lemon 3 TBSP all purpose flour 1 prebaked tart crust (you can use a store-bought graham cracker pie crust) 1/4 cup sweetened whipped cream Preheat oven 300* In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, cream,...

  My dearest has a "thing" about hats! (baseball caps I should say)  He's been wearing and collecting them as long as I can remember.  Today he was looking for a particular "Bronco" one (he has several in different colors) and was taking them from the top of the closet and piling them on top of each other.  He jokingly put the stack on his head, and I grabbed the camera.  When I told him I was going to call the blog post "The Mad Hatter" ~~ he added or "Just Plain Nuts"  They both work. HaHa   It's rather obvious he's a Boise Bronco fan and has the hats, sweat shirts, and jackets to prove it.  When we took out trip to Boise last year to see our cousins....they outfitted him in style and even took us to a Boise State Bronco Football game!!   Do you have a "mad hatter" in your family?

  It was the Winter of 2003 and not only was the weather cold and dismal, but that's the way I felt in my Spiritual Journey ~ cold and dismal.  It wasn't that I was going through some deep or difficult circumstances.  Just the opposite ~ I was a leader in the Women's School of Ministry, teaching a Women's Bible Study, visiting the elderly ~It was a good time of Ministry.  And that was the problem ~ I was so busy studying, leading, visiting that I was neglecting the Lover of my Soul.  I longed for solitude and quiet ~ time to just spend with my Lord.  I was longing for intimacy with Him, and one night, just fell on my face and cried out I want to spend time with you Lord, but I can't find any!!  When you are in the pit, and cry out really seeking an answer....He will give you one.    I went to bed that night exhausted from pleading so hard and fell into a deep sleep.  At that time, beside the Church activities, I was was working ...

 As a young girl I loved all the Beatrix Potter stories.  I think it was where my love of watercolor began with her illustrations, and also the illustrations in my Beginning Reader of Dick and Jane.  When the movie "Miss Potter" came out I saw it, and bought it, and have watched it many times.  I also loved ready the biography's of Beatrix Potter.  What a woman, what a story, what enjoyment she has brought to so many.  I've been collecting her books and have a set of her miniature books. All that background to say I found a treasure at the Thrift Store today.  A large book in pristine condition.  No marks anywhere on or in it.  "The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter" was published in 1992 and contains 19 of her stories and illustrations.  It was $1.99 and I've been reading it to myself all afternoon.  Do you like Beatrix stories?  Have you seen the movie...I think you'll love it. I can't wait to read th...

  This afternoon, my dearest took me to The Olive Garden for an early Valentine Dinner.   If you look very close at his face, you will see something I've been asking him to do for 50 years.  He's growing a beard.  I have always thought facial hair on a man was handsome.  You can blame Tom Selleck and that great mustache that started it.  It's just a start...can't wait to see it when it's a full beard.   When I woke up this morning I wanted to bake something Valentine, but didn't have anything in the house to use.  Then it hit me... I had bananas, and I had strawberries.... Why not Strawberry Banana Bread?  It's yummy.  A new invention.  My landscapers thought so too.   After our early dinner, we decided to bring home the dessert and have it at home with a nice fresh cup of coffee.  It's a a mixture of chocolate cake, cheese cake and chocolate mousse.  It's been a great Valentine Day.  Hope yo...

  A Friend Is Someone © Leah Ross A friend is someone You turn to. A friend is someone You confide in. A friend is someone Who stands by you. A friend is someone Who lifts your spirits. A friend is someone who encourages you. A friend is someone You treasure always. A friend is someone Who makes you smile. A friend is someone Who brightens your day.   Happy Valentines Day to all my dear family and blog friends.  

  Several of you asked if I'd share the short devotion I gave at our Ladies Night Out.  Here is the outline.  Girl's Night Out Devotion   Did you ever wake up and say:   This isn't the life I planned or dreamed about! This isn't the job I wanted. This little paycheck is NOT the paycheck I wanted. I'm single, and longed to be married. I'm married, and would love to be free and single. I want children, and can't. These children are driving me nuts.   I never have any time to myself. I'm lonely ~ wish the kids would call. I hate being sick!   Why me? I'm tired of being the 24/7 care giver.   I need some help. Lord ~ this isn't the life I dreamed of. Ever felt that way ~ I have! I think Ann Voskamp felt that way   and why she wrote the book ~ "One Thousand Gifts" 'DARE TO LIVE FULLY ~ RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE' A hog farmer's wife, raising half a dozen children, crops of corn n the Menno...

    Tonight is "Girl's Night Out" for the ladies of our Church.  We're meeting at local cafe for dinner and I've been ask to bring a short devotional at the end of the evening.   Since Valentines Day is just around the corner, I made some cute "handouts" with hearts and ribbon that will be used in conjunction with my devotion on "One Thousand Gift" book, and my own Journal I've been doing over the past year of my own 1000 list of things I'm thankful for on a daily basis.  The handouts have 10 pages, and will give the gals a place to start their lists.   Also sharing the verse "Philippians 4:8" on what to meditate on daily!   Details of the Devotion on Sunday.

  Step One ~ bring in the large folding table from the garage so I had a place to work.  Last quilt I made I laid it out on the bed, and when I finished pinning...had pinned some of it to my bedspread. teehee.  The table worked much better.  Fabric, and batting trimmed and ready to pin in place.        I'm using the backing to trim the quilt.  I like the way it looks and it saves time from a separate binding.  It's all pinned in place.       This morning, I will press all the binding and blind hem all the binding, then I can use my hoops and start the quilting around all the squares and little animals.  Little Baby Scott (baby's last name) Let the quilting begin!!!!

  Today I found the perfect fabric for our new baby.  Jill is decorating with the wild animal print, and I found "Wild Jungle Babies."  Are they not adorable?  Baby lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, monkeys and even a baby hippo.     The backing for the quilt, which will be crib size is the tiger print.     Then I found a piece of fabric with the same baby animals all together, and there was just enough to make a couple of pillows.   I found it all at JoAnn's Fabric and since this material is a 2006 pattern it was 40% off.  I can't wait to get started.  I thought I had some batting, but must have used it, so tomorrow I'll pick up the batting and then get started quilting.   I will be hand quilting around the squares and the animals and it should turn out really nice.  It's the way I made the quilts for all the other grandchildren.   Will give updates as it comes along!  ...

Click on pictue to enlarge   Seven years ago, today with fear and trembling I pushed the publish button for my first post.  I called my blog "Brushstrokes from the Heart ~ Wanda's Way of Life to share my watercolors.   The banner at the top was my header for many years as I share my paintings.   But life changes.  We retired, we moved closer to family, and I put my painting on the back burner.  My family and my new little kitchen became my love.  I still love to paint, but find myself only doing it for Creative Tuesdays.   Life is interesting that way...   I do love to paint children, and the ones in the banner are from a brochure for Samaritan's Purse, Operation Shoe Box.  The girl in the white dress is kneeling in adoration and worship.   When did you start blogging, and why?  Just asking!   PS ~ Such a busy weekend with Jon's Birthday and Super Bowl, I didn't get back to respond to yo...

  The baby is due in June, and Jill is getting the nursery ready.  Since they have decided not to know if they are having a girl or boy until it's born, and since Jill has always loved animal prints they are going with that theme.   She's waiting to see if there will be some splashes of blues and greens, or pink and lavenders in the room, but now she had some giraffe print curtains with stuffed lion ties.  I talk to her today, and she said, "Mom, remember the Lion and Cub you painted for me, it's hanging in the babies room on the wall next to the Lion Ties on the Curtains."   I'm really excited that my Daddy Lion and cub will be hanging in the Nursery.  I saw this picture in a National Geographic Magazine, and fell in love with it.  I said I've got to paint this.   I love Daddy Lion babysitting while Momma Lioness is out getting dinner.   It's been a long time since I decorated a Nursery...How about you? ...

  Going along with my "February Theme" it was time for some Valentine cookies.  They look so pretty on the red plate don't you think?     Such an easy recipe.  1 box white cake mix 2 eggs 1/3 c. oil 1 1/4 c. M&M's Drop by spoonful Bake 350 ~ 10 minutes Enjoy!!