20 June 2009

Over the past couple weeks, we have had several animal visitors spend a bit of time in our yard. It is amazing to see the detail that God gave them.

As Buddy Davis says,

“It’s designed to do what it does do. What it does do it does do well.”

A golden-eyed toad that ribbit-ed when I picked him up. He enjoyed hunkering in the grass.

A young robin who graced us with it’s presence on a few occasions (surprisingly he did not seem to mind our somewhat up-close company).

A pleasant turtle (about the size of a dinner plate) enjoyed tramping across our yard (Daddy had saved him while he was crossing the road in town and we later dropped him of at Granny’s pond).

We also had deer, but I did not get very good pictures of them as they were quicker on foot than I was at changing the camera lens.

Have you had any animal guests lately?

[16] Comments » | Categories: God's Creation, Life

6 May 2009

When I picked them up at the green house they did not look quite like this, as those “charming” legs had not protruded from between their petals yet. These comical little plants are a variation of the sweet hen and chicks.

Their centers are filled with natural white threadlike substance which has the appearance of cobwebs. That is why this variation of the hens and chicks is called, “Cobweb”.

I call them “my spider monkeys” because they are a bit silly and make me think of spiders when all the chicks are sticking out the sides.

Have you planted any new plants? I would enjoy hearing about them!

[9] Comments » | Categories: God's Creation, Inspirations, The Home

27 April 2009

We have been quite busy working on our little homestead together as a family. Projects that include the whole family are such a joy! It is such a blessing to get to work alongside my wonderful father, mother, and sister.

We worked in our herb garden, raking the leaves left from last autumn.

Instead of such a large circle, we are only keeping half of it and will fill the rest with our soon to be Square-Foot-Garden. The wind has been very strong as of late, so that has put off our soil mixing for now, but we are looking forward to putting it all together!

Breezy and I built boxes with Daddy for the raised garden bed. I just love working along side my daddy, he is such a wonderful, godly leader!

We moved the shed by rolling (screechy rolling) it on pipes which were in between boards and the bottom of the shed. Every couple feet they had to be moved, but it went more smoothly with us all helping than we thought it would.

There are several healthy Maple saplings throughout the garden. We plan to replant them as well as our little Pin Oak saplings.

We moved logs from one corner of our property (where a tree had just been cut down) to our wood pile at the other corner.

Under a step that I was moving, I found a nice size ant home. Their tunnels were amazing to look at and it was neat to see what God-given craftsmanship such little bugs have! We decided to give them some time to relocate, as they were panicking over what to do with all their little ones.

All throughout the yard are cheery little dandelions, just waiting to be picked.

“He will bless those who fear the Lord.
The small together with the great.

May the Lord give you increase,
You and your children.

May you be blessed of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth.”

– Psalm 115:13-15 –

[12] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, Family, God's Creation, Life, The Home

13 April 2009

The birds play outside our windows, singing their lovely little songs.

E’rywhere we turn there are little sprouts of green that get bigger by the day.

The days are cold and rainy, but Spring is here again.

“This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

– Psalm 118:24 –

[12] Comments » | Categories: God's Creation, Inspirations, Life

9 March 2009

“The more of Christ that a people enjoy, the happier are they.” – Samuel Willard

“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people’s minds.” – Samuel Adams

“Consider that no sin against a great God can be strictly a little sin.” – Ralph Venning

“Mr. Rogers, I like you and your company very well, but you are so precise.” To which the Puritan preacher replied, “O Sir, I serve a precise God.”

“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it, than we do from learning the answer itself.” – Lloyd Alexander

“Were earthy comforts permanent, who would look for heavenly?” – Anne Bradstreet

[10] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, Quotes

5 March 2009

[26] Comments » | Categories: Portfolio, Vintage

26 February 2009

I made a couple notebooks for the Christians at the Crossroads conference the day before we left, which was quite an endeavor for such a busy day. Thankfully I was able to get them finished in time.

The covers are decoupaged (for extra beauty) chipboard with scrapbook paper. The lined pages are cut from one of those great back-to-school 5¢ notebook deals. The smaller one is actually made from the scraps of the pages in the larger book.

The handy little Zutter Bind-It-All machine punches the holes and securely crimps the binding to keep the notebook together. These are the first two notebooks that I have made with the Zutter, and I’m sure there will be many more to come. It is a very easy tool to use, and makes one feel quite productive!

[18] Comments » | Categories: Handmade, Inspirations

18 February 2009

These were in the background of a photo shoot I did for the Girlhood Home Companion (a beautiful magazine for daughters, mothers, and grandmothers).

Momma made the made the little birdie pouch. It is themed off of a pouch my sister, Breezy, made several years back. The simple whimsy of it is darling.

The tea cups have been around for a long while. I don’t remember a time when we did not have them. We still use them as we always have – for muffins and milk. They are old, chipped, and cracked, but just as lovely as they ever were.

[11] Comments » | Categories: Encouragement, Food, Handmade, Inspirations

5 February 2009

. . . he looked out the window . . .

. . . and decided to take a rest.

[9] Comments » | Categories: Family, Life