Bye Bye Birdie

I grew up a stone's throw from Mission San Juan Capistrano, and I love to go there in the spring when the swallows return on March 19 - which is also my brother's birthday. They are so graceful and their songs so trilling and sweet.

Swallows apparently know that I like them.... the local ones have begun to take up residence in my breezeway. I've chased them out repeatedly, pulled down the nesting materials multiple times, hung shiny silver strips of tape to deter them...nada. They think this is a summer home colony for them, neatly tucked beneath the eaves and protected from the weather.

I'm guessing they also think the miscellaneous furnishings, cabinets, tables, and assorted other items now siting in the breezeway are just for them, too.... this is where I am building our mock booth setup for summer shows, and they are lighting on every thing out there! (Do you know that muddy nest-making droppings and bird poop can turn into a cement-like substance within minutes??? ugh.) Not exactly conducive to the look I'm goin' for in our design plan.

I had the mock booth set up inside my little barn. But my barn is divided by a stall wall, and I was having a heckuva time working around it to configure the space layout. So I moved it all out into the covered breezeway between my barn and Bob's shop. Great location, easily accessible, and I was able to figure it all out quickly once I had space to work.

Apparently, that's exactly what the sparows thought. Nevermind that there are three other barns on the farm here, with perfectly good eaves for nestbuilding. Oh, no, they want the same area I do. Any suggestions on how to humanely scare them off?

Fun at PahwPahw & Marmee's House

It's Monday, with typical 'To Do' lists a mile long... it's another busy week for us, especially with the products we are completing to put into Faded Elegance on May 3rd. And prepping for both the Farm Chicks & Funky Junk Sisters shows in early June. So we got up & out and to work early, got a lot done, and were just about to head in for lunch when we had a visitor...

Apparently, Mr. Man was demanding a visit to 'PahwPahw's' house. (Grandpa), so Mommy brought him out to the farm. We had just picked up this little pup tent at a garage sale last weekend (just two bucks and it's brand spanking new, even tho it's vintage canvas from the 50's!), so we set it up in the sunny backyard for him. After a few moments of trepidation, he went in.

And out.
And in again.
And out again.
This went on for...oh, about two hours. Then he herded us all in, zipped the door closed, and then ran circles around the tent. (Some kind of roundup, I guess!) Then he wanted in, so he herded us OUT. And zipped the door closed.

And peeked out at us!

We spent four hours playing with this little squirt, and enjoyed every last minute. When he and mommy left, we went back to work on our projects... and we are still smiling like idiots... Some days, work is highly overrated. ;0) And when a boy wants his 'PahwPahw', well, you can't tell him no!

He finally consented to a name for me, too, thank heavens. We've tried everything and he just calls me 'PahwPahw' like grampy. sigh. Today mommy asked him if he could say 'Marmee' (which is what she's called me since she was young and read 'Little Women') - and he softly said 'Maahrrmee'. Then she asked him 'Where is Marmee?', and he turned around and pointed to me. YAY!!!! Now I fully expect him to one day demand a visit to Maaahrmeee's house, too! (Hey, I give him cookies!)

The Stuff of My Dreams

It's a warm sunny spring afternoon, and the breeze is blowing in through the open window, making the gossamer curtain move ever so softly. The sunlight doesn't come in the window yet, but will as the season deepens. By Summer, late afternoon will be a perfect time for a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and the song of birds outside for music.

This gorgeous quaking aspen tree is right outside the window, casting moving shadows in the fading afternoon light. Birds fill its branches all day long, warbling and singing and tweeting.

Across the pasture, a fruit tree springs into bloom in the sunshine. When the wind is right, the scent fills our house.

On the back deck, overlooking another pasture, the daffodils still bloom and nod in the breeze.

Overhead, puffy white clouds float in blue skies, and sparrows dive, hawks soar, and bald eagles spin lazy circles in the air.

Every single day of my life, I am awed and amazed by the beauty that surrounds me. To live in this place, to feel every moment this overwhelming sense of gratitude for the blessings and abundance that God has provided, is more than I ever thought I would experience in my life...

You see, I was taught not to 'get my hopes up'. I was taught that life would let me down, that people would disappoint me, and that keeping my feet on the ground rather than my head in the clouds was the smart way to live. Don't aim too high, don't go out on that limb, don't ask for too much. The underlying message was '...because you'll never get it'. So I tried, I really tried, NOT to dream of life the way I wanted it to be instead of the way it was.

It took me until I was forty six years old to realize that all of that advice, though meant to protect me from disappointments, was wrong. God has so much more in store for us than we can ever even imagine. And those dreams we dare to dream come from the desires that have been placed in our hearts and minds by the Divine. We are here to LIVE, to dream, to explore, to experience, to risk, to try....

Someone once said 'We are spiritual beings experiencing life in a human body'. While I can't remember who it was who said that, I find it to be very true about myself as I experience these moments of divine presence in the world I inhabit now. I stand within the reality of the dream He gave me as a child, that I hid for years and finally allowed myself to imagine, and I am utterly humbled by the thought that I ever doubted that life could be like this. It's not perfect, it's not easy, but oh my friends, after experiencing some very dark shadows and long painful nights on this journey, I consider myself blessed beyond all understanding to stand at last in the sunshine and His presence.

Wherever you are, whatever you are experiencing right now, please don't give up. Please GET your hopes up, for Hope is the twin of Faith - and together, they will see you through the darkness. Soon, very soon, your sun will rise on a glorious day. And you will be amazed by how bright that light is...

Found!

I just have to share these gorgeous goodies with you! We had some errands to run, and it's a sunny day, so of course we passed a few yard sales...and we all know that a girl just can't resist a good yard, sale, right? Fortunately, dear husband knows this (and truthfully, he loves them as much as I do!) so he was game to check a few of them out.

Thank goodness we stopped, 'cause I discovered some real amazing stuff! That incredible old plaster frame in the photo above is pretty large - it will hold a 12X18 image, and I have some great sheet music to mat a print. I think I even have a piece of glass that will fit it. Once cleaned up, she'll look perfect with the white floral ceramic pieces I have in Faded Elegance.!

Hold onto your hats.... I also found these:

The shades, well, they are old plastic and they literally crumbled when I pulled the lamps out from under the table (where someone had hidden them). Forget the shades, they can be replaced...it's the LAMPS that had me doing some heavy breathing! Perfect white enamel graceful leaves, with white chalcedony-like crystals dripping from them. OK, wait, they don't look so good in this shot....but look down:

Come to Mama! These are not hardwired - they have a plug-in cord at the bottom of the lower bracket. And they hang by one simple screwhook on the top bracket - easy! With brand new shades on top, they just scream Shabby Chic-ness, and are already in the shop. (There is a big event at Faded Elegance tomorrow night, so I wanted to get them in there for the girls to oogle!) A closer look at the details:


I am betting they won't last too long... Oh, and as we were walking back to the car from the shop, I spotted a darling little black metal birdcage & hanger, just sitting there FREE on the sidewalk. So, of course, I snapped it right up! ;0) I already have the perfect base for it, so it will be heading to Farm Chicks. This is easily one of my best 'finds' days lately!!!

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!

Red Sky @ Night

These are not photos of a forest fire, but of the stunning sunset we saw at 8 PM tonight. Following an evening reset of our space at Faded Elegance (check out our Retreat blog to see) we walked outside and saw the beginnings of it - and raced down to River Road to get these photos. Most of them were taken through the windshield while Bob was driving, too!

Sights like this remind me of something my grandpa used to say: "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning." I'm still not really sure what that means, because it seems to me that it would depend on whether or not you are headed into the oncoming storm....??? (See, it's things like this that I need him to still be around for, so I can ask him about it.)

Speaking of grandpas, we stopped in to see our grandson on our way home. I love the way he says 'grandpa': 'PohPoh'! And if you ask him to say 'grandma', do you know what he says? 'PohPoh'. We gotta' work on this....

Thank You, Kim!

I was blog surfing, and just happened to find out that my friend Kim has given me an award! Why thank you, my dear!

The Rules:
1. List 7 things that you love.
2. Link to the person who has tagged you
3. Choose 7 more bloggers to give the Kreativ Blogger Award to.
4. Comment on those 7 blogs to let the recipients know you chose them.

Okay, so, 7 things that I love... about my friend Kim! (Note: the people I choose do not - I repeat, NOT - have to share seven things they love about me. Yipes. Nope, just seven random things of their choice! This just happens to be MY choice!)

1. That we have known each other for most of our lives.
Kim and I met when we were in first or second grade, at North Valley Baptist Church in Redding, Ca. Our parents were youth workers together, became friends, and so our families spent time together. We became fast friends in record time - and lots of summer church camp, Pioneer Girls, sleepovers, and Sunday after-church get-togethers followed!

2. I loved her room. It was all 'Patches' by Betsy....someone.....that featured little girls, almost Holly Hobbie in style, but softer and sweeter. It was perfect. I wasn't jealous, but OH how I loved her room! (Her mom knew Sam Butcher, too - the artist who created Precious Moments. And when I see Precious Moments art, I think of Kim's room!)

3. Her beautiful voice. Kim and I and our friend Nancy used to sing at church - in choirs and also as a trio. We were 'The Strawberry Girls', so named because our pastor loved strawberry pies and whenever we sang, we'd give him a pie. We sang a LOT! Our moms made our outfits - three matching strawberry-print pinafores over red gingham dresses. I have no photos of that. (Lucky you!) I'm not surprised at all that Kim's kids and hubby are musically inclined, either.

4. Her parents. Kim's mom & dad are fun-loving, kind and generous people who always made me feel welcome in their home, car, lives, wherever. It meant a lot to me. My home life wasn't what it appeared to be from the outside, and their influence made more of a difference that they will ever know. (hugs to uncle Fred & auntie Dink!)

5. Her smile! She lights up a room. Kimmy has always been a ray of sunshine (um, except during a few situations I remember when her kid brother teamed up with my kid brother and they tormented us...) And if you look at her sons and her daughter, they all have their mom's cheery smile, too. I love how she can convey that smile through the way she writes on her blog, too!

6. Her enjoyment of the simple things. I remember a summer when I was sidelined by a foot injury, and was sentenced to three months of no swimming, no lake trips, no sand, no nuthin' but staying home. I was miserable. Kimmy repeatedly came over to just hang out with me - play Barbies, read Nancy Drew books, listen to our Robbie & Steve records, and draw pictures. She encouraged me to enter a drawing contest, so I did - and I won a ten speed bike at McDonalds that summer!

7. Her faith. Kim's unwavering faith and service to her Lord is inspiring, uplifting, and absolutely the first thing I think of when she comes to mind. I spent one day with Kim at her Christian elementary school when we were young, and even then, she was a shining example of Christlike compassion, helpfulness, and love. She reminds me so much of her mom in that respect.

I am so blessed to have had this wonderful woman in my life for so many years... (which seems amazing, since we are both merely twenty six years old!) ;0) I'm choosing seven of my other friends with blogs to honor with this award...

Ruth at http://thebeautifullifeblog.blogspot.com/

Tammy at http://tammygilleystudios.typepad.com/tammy_gilley_studios/

MaryBeth at http://poppyseedsshop.blogspot.com/

Christine at http://vistawoman.blogspot.com/

Dixie & Linda at http://funkyjunksisters.blogspot.com/

KayEllen at http://kayellen.typepad.com/kayellen/

Cindy at http://angelheartdesigns.blogspot.com/

(I just discovered something amazing. All of my friends with blogs are NEW friends except Kim. She is the only one of the many people I have known for a long time that has a blog! What is UP with those other people?! Don't they know what they are missing?!)

Weekend Update

This weekend was really productive. I know, I know - it's a weekend! But when you do what you love....well, it just doesn't seem like work. We did take time to enjoy the sunbreaks and warmer weather, though. Meanwhile, I gathered up all of my supplies for seven products that I will be creating multiples of to sell at Farm Chicks - so now I can kick into total 'production mode' this week and get things completed.

One of the products I am making requires a display piece, so I came up with Miss Priss above. I was watching "Oklahoma" while I created her, so now everytime I look at her I start hearing Rodgers & Hammerstein songs in my head!

I had fun turning a two dollar styro head into a vintage-look mannequin. Lots of old book pages & sheet music cover her, vintage crepe paper forms her ruffles, and some 'paper lace' trim is a great finishing touch. The paper on her mouth is cut in the shape of lips, and says 'Vocal Music'...not sure if I'll keep that or not. She may or may not get softly rouged cheeks and some glitter, as well. We'll see!

Then, since she needed a bit of height, I mounted her up on a pedestal. I made it from a funky wire 'thing' (I think it's a plant pot holder, but I'm not sure!) that has absolutely perfectly rusted, aged white paint. An orphaned candlestick fit right into the bottom ring, and I glued more vintage crepe paper ruffle & 'paper lace' trim on there, too. Three heavy vintage glass crystals add some sparkle to finish it off.

I think she's perfect for displaying the very special crowns & tiaras I am creating! Yep, I'm replicating my 'famous' Tumbleweed Cotillion Tiara, just for you. (I'll have two sizes, but limited quantities, so if you want one, be at Farm Chicks early on Saturday!)


We went out and did a bit of thrifting this weekend, too. A few tables & chairs, some lighing, three HUGE vintage chalkboards on rolling stands, a large cabinet, and a bunch of small stuff was the result. When I piled the small stuff on the table, it became a perfect little still life that expresses the palette we have chosen for our theme for Farm Chicks...and I am just in love with it. OK, no more sneak peeks or hints - a girl has to have some secrets! ;0)

A Very Good Sign

It amazes me how two people can see or hear about the same situation, and have vastly opposing views of it. Something small happened in our little world yesterday, (though it was a big thing to a few people) and we saw it one way - a very positive way. You see, this thing that happened affects us and our reality and our dream and our future in a good way, as we see it. A bonafide miracle of sorts. Well, wouldn't you know it, someone else who heard about this situation immediately took it as a bad thing, an omen of impending doom for us, an 'oh dear' moment.

I dislike 'oh dear' moments. They portend Drama just around the bend, and I've had enough drama in my life to fuel a soap opera for a longer run than As The World Turns had. (Is that the right one??? The 'longest running daily drama' that just got the axe? I don't watch them so I'm not sure....) I hate confrontation, I loathe trying to negotiate with passive-agressive people, and I have no patience for drama anymore. At all.

But the point is, it's all in the perception. I could look at this thing as woeful, get worried about the 'what ifs' and find myself in a severe spiral of depression. I could make that choice - because our viewpoint of anything and everything is, after all, always a choice. But I've been there, done that, and I'm not going back down that road again. Better choices lie ahead for me - and as Oprah says, "When you KNOW better, you DO better!"

So, instead, I tilt my head and look at the situation, and let a smile light up my face, and I thank God for miracles large & small. Because this is one more step in our miraculous journey that HE has wrought - we've done nothing. It's out of our hands. It's in our hearts, and our minds, and our souls, but our hands are not part of the equation here. God is opening doors and adjusting details and minute by minute, day by day, the path unfolds. His Universe functions as He designed it to. The resources arrive in abundance. The blessings multiply a hundredfold. Any lingering doubt, fear, or wavering faith we experience are momentary lapses, brought about because we focused on someone else's viewpoint, and not what we KNOW is true. As opposed to what we are TOLD is true.

And so we choose to see each development as a very good sign that we are heading the right direction. At the right speed. In the right vehicle. With the right fuel. And a map drawn by God's hand to tell us exactly where we are going. We are there already! Just a few details to tend to, and then on to the next step. (I am SO excited for the day when I can share more - it's coming!)

In the meantime, I thank God for miracles and signs and unrelated things that bring a message straight from Him. (Miss Susan Boyle's song & story, for instance.... boy, did that one hit home!)

How are you looking at things today, my friends? What will you choose as your viewpoint today? Do you see the possibility, the chance, the opportunity for miracles large and small to occur? Do you expect wonder, joy, and abundance to surround you? Try it. It works. And that's no secret. ;0)

Pure Inspiration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Just click the link, and be AMAZED. This is why you never give up on a dream, my friends....

Photo of Susan Boyle courtesy of 'Britains Got Talent' and 'YouTube'

The Church Of Baseball...

Yes, children, the time has come again for us to gather together in the temple of Baseball with our bretheren. To go forth and raise our voices in worship, singing hallowed hymns like the National Anthem and 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame'. To rise up and lift our hands in praise to the almighty one who holds the power of the strike or the home run in his hands. To stomp our feet and dance in the aisles when said strike or home run is in our team's favor. To clasp our hands in prayer hoping for a grand slam and shout in righteous indignation when our player is called 'OUT!'.

For the 2009 baseball season has come to Seattle, and with it, the SUNSHINE!!!!!! Todays' home opener was played beneath blue skies, in warm sunshine, with the roof open. The M's have a start to the season with a leading record - you have no idea how rare that is!

Most glorious of all, Griffey The Kid is back home where he belongs...and we won the game! Sorry, Angels Fans, but we reeeeeeeeally needed this.

For today at least, God is in His Heaven and all is right with the world. ;0)

Bob & Deb, answering the Call to Worship.... what a glorious day at the ballpark! Thank You, Jeni!

(No offense meant by the references, it's all in fun....)

...Just a FEW More.....

Forgive me.... but I just got these snaps of Darling Grandson #2 from Daughter #4, and I simply have to share them! Check out Mr. JMan, in his Easter best up there... adorable!!!! (I nearly cried when I saw this cause' he looks so BIG!)

Suave lil' squirt, just like his Daddy!

Not doin' so bad there, with the big bad Easter bunny! HEY! Wait a minute... way back when JMan's daddy was in high school, he was conned into donning an outfit just like that at a colorguard competition.....

You can see he just LOVED that, too...!

I love this shot. So sweet! Miss Ashley took Mr. JMan to Houston this weekend, to share Easter with her extended family. My son had to work, so he stayed in San Antonio. It looks like it was a great mommy-son weekend, doesn't it?!

Easter Treats

I didn't get an Easter basket this year, but I got the next best thing!

Spending time with darling grandson #1, and absolutely cracking UP when I saw this photo of darling grandson #2:

ADORABLE!

I did get this. He's chocolate! ;0)

Hope your Easter has been wonderful!

Eggsactly.

Yup. Just try and be a little different, a little unique.... and this happens. (I guess there's a bad egg in every dozen...) Happy Easter, everyone! ;0)

Old & New

First the 'Old':

I had a request for more NeSts at Faded Elegance, so I took another batch in today. I also stocked some old photo frames, one of which I very nearly kept. If it had been silver in color, I would have!!! (The tiny one in the last photo....it's very, very old). I put sheet music in each frame, and they all had titles that said 'Spring' or 'April' in the title...

That reveals one of my strange foibles: I cannot sell empty frames. It's just not in me to do it, unless they have no backing and are just the frame part. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's bad luck, kind of like giving someone a purse or wallet without any money in it! (Actually, I also sell lamps with light bulbs in them - that must be part of my strange superstition, too!) So, I always find pretty papers or music or something to fill the frame with...which also helps me coordinate them with the current theme in our space. (And ya' know I have to do that cuz I'm a complete freak, right?!)

And for the 'New':

This evening I logged into Facebook, and found a happy surprise waiting for me on my Daughter #4's profile:

Mr. JMan, lookin' beefy and proud to be a Texan...and just look at that charming smile! This chubmeister is only four months old, people. I am totally amazed at how big he is getting... he's in 6 to 9 month sized clothes - and from the looks of this photo, he's due to bump up to the 12 month size! Grammy's gotta' get herself to Texas or get Mommy & Mr. JMan up here to Washington soon. I really needed this today, I'll tell ya'. Thank you sweet Ashley, for sharing pictures of your boy!

A Glorious Morning!

Remember those Camellias I told you about?

I picked a few yesterday and popped them into some ironstone, and sat them on the table on the deck. They fit right in with some pots of moss that I used as props at the Sand Point Antique show and a broken birdcage that I can't seem to sell! (Even really cheep...haha...cheap)

This is what they look like this morning...

...shining in the warm sunshine...

...with a soft sea breeze and birds singing everywhere...

I swear I woke up this morning thinking I was back home in California!

I really don't want to be there, I want to be HERE. If we could just keep the weather like this... permanently... ah, well, I am enjoying it while it's here. What a glorious day! I hope yours is filled with sunshine and joy, my friends. Blessings to you!