Gone with the Wind

Ohhhh, what a beautiful day this is! We have been so blessed here in Pennsylvania that the Hurricane did very little damage. At least in our little area. I captured my bedroom curtains blowing in the wonderful 40 mph wind. I really felt like I was at the beach.

This whole week has found me thinking and dreaming of the ocean and sand and sun. So to bring myself a little closer to the shore, I decorated my new farm table with a beach vibe. See what you think!

If you can't be on the beach, bring it home, right? This has made me feel a little closer!

Until later,
Tammy

Movie Date on the Cheap

Hello from the wind-swept NorthEast --
All is well in our little neighborhood after Hurricane Irene winds and rains have come through. It's actually lovely hearing the wind in the trees!

Over the weekend, I told you my sister and mom and I went to the movies. Well, I wanted to share with you our deal that we "worked" to make it a cheap little date. First we went to Tokyo diner and took out some sushi with  a 15% coupon making it only  $5 for 8 pieces of a spicy tuna roll. We each bought a soda and candy bar at Rite Aid for $3 and smuggled them into the theatre to save $3 a candy bar and $4 a drink!
Then my sis (clever girl!) had a free medium size popcorn coupon that she got from visiting the theatre and had her frequent movie watcher card stamped.
Thus bringing the total to a whopping $14 including a $6 movie ticket.  (Without all the savings the bill would have been $23) We also went during the matinee show, otherwise we would have added another $6 to our movie ticket. Outrageous!!
So we really had a good time and it was a decent deal in the end!

Hope your Sunday is fabulous!!

The Help

Happy Summer, Friends --
Yes it's still summer here in the Northeast, and I am going to celebrate to the very end, hurricane Irene or not.
Today, in the midst of rain showers, my mom, sis and I went to the movies to see The Help.
I hadn't heard anything about it prior to seeing it, but it proved to be phenomenal.
Although the Civil Rights Movement had come and gone a century before this 1960's fictional account, racism was still apparent in many homes in the South. Kathryn Stockett, author of the book by the same name, was very clever in writing three main characters into the plot that was both gripping and eye-opening. Emma Stone stars as a journalist capturing the black maid's controversial stories which later gets published. This brings about much turmoil for Aibileen ( Viola Davis) and Minnie (Octavia Spencer) two black maids in Mississippi,  There's also a couple light - hearted scenes staring Skeeter (Emma Stone) and her new found boyfriend; as well as one with Sissy Spacek's character, Minny and Bryce Dallas Howard (Hilly). Let me just say the latter involves chocolate pie. When you go see the movie, you will definitely know what I mean. HILARIOUS! The action brings about a triumphant, cathartic moment for the viewer that is on Minny's side.

I give the movie 5 thumbs up out of five and definitely want to go see it again!!

Tammy

Random Pictures

There's a summer yard sale that I don't ever want to miss. It's held in my area twice a year at an old church just five minutes from our development. There's above 25 vendors and I make a beeline to only one.

The vendor is a foreign war veteran of about 80 years old. He is the sweetest man and always has something cheerful to say. He also has the best vintage goods I've ever seen at a yard sale in our little town.

This year I bought these wonderful galvanized buckets from him. I've been wanting one for so long, and was so happy to see that he had some. Isn't the littlest one cute? I can't wait to fill them with all kinds of flowers and treasures!

I also bought this wonderful box from him. I've been moving it all around my dining room to find just the perfect spot. Oh the treasures it will hold!

Enjoy your day!

Summer's End

Hello Summer Friends --
I have been seeing so many pictures and store merchandise about Fall, and I don't know about you, but I am so not ready!!
I am going to cling to every last minute of sunshine that God gives. I am going to strain my ears to hear the birds chirp and the wonderful catching of lightening bugs.

I am going to enjoy the hot summer sun on my back and the gentle sway of the breeze tugging at my hammock.

 I am going to chase after my girls at the park, ride bikes into the sunset and beat it to the custard stand for some homemade summer goodness! (really, I could eat this stuff all year long. And do!)

 You know, the best part of summer is just feeling the sun in every waking moment. Through every pore of your body!! Through the open windows. Through the sun roof. And on your bare skin.  
Oh summer....won't you stay?

Finally .....

Without any further adieu .... my farm table!!!!!

I hope you like it as much as I do!! Many more pictures to come!

New Chair to go with New Table

I got me ONE chair to go with my almost painted farm table. It is a beauty. I'm so glad you girls know me because others can't believe I would keep such a chair. But ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I sure love the color! And the chippyness (word?) is so lovely!

So now I am on a hunt for nine more chairs! I would really love to find two oval back cane chairs! That would be just perfect!

Juls ... I sure feel a Lucketts trip coming into my near future!! How about you?

Tammy

HE DID IT!!

My Man Made Me A Farm Table!! I am so proud of him!! He has never made anything in his life, and yet he made this so effortlessly. (so it seemed!)
He started with a plan he found on HGTV that closely matched what I told him I was looking for. And within two days (evenings after work) it was done. I am really speechless and awed that he would do this for me.

Here's a look at the table from Dreamy Whites that I told my man that I was hoping for. Isn't it beautiful? I've been swooning over it ever since I found Maria's blog. Now I almost have one just like it. I say "almost" because we have yet to paint ours. Because I don't trust myself with the meticulous work of painting such a fine table, I have given the task up again, to my husband. He will do a great job.

Here is my husband hard at work constructing the frame of the table. I had my mom and grandma drive over just to check it out at this point, I was so thrilled! They were very impressed. So was my neighbor. He wandered over to ask what Bob was making. My husband laughed after our neighbor had gone home and said, " I should have told him I was building an ark" Love his sense of humor!!!

You'll have to forgive me for rushing ahead and setting the table already! You understand these things, right?

When it's painted, I will be sure to show you the final look. Probably with a whole new table setting, to boot!
Thanks for stopping by!

 Tammy

NEW FARM TABLE!!!

Happy Summer, Friends!
Girls, I am so excited! As of this very moment, my precious husband is outside working hard on what is to be my new farm table. I hope to have pictures to soon!!
If I don't have pictures in a day or two, you know we are out buying a farm table! hee hee hee hee

 

Rice Noodles, Sushi and Chicken Teriyaki

Happy Summer, Friends!
It has been one fabulous summer so far. Not only has the sun been holding up to its end of the bargain with hot, sunny days, but my time has been wonderfully orchestrated this summer. It is of no merit of my own.
We've enjoyed our first camping trips this summer with friends and family. God blessed us with the most incredible "back yard view" on our second camping trip. I wish I had a picture to share. I think I was just so awe-struck with the lake shimmering through the tall pines that I never thought to get my camera!  Isn't that what camping is all about? Enjoying nature and relaxing? My girls had so much fun making new friends, and we were blessed to have neighboring campers with 5 girls!

We've also been blessed this summer to meet two girls from China. They stayed in our home for one week while on a one month American tour. They were so precious and reminded me of our Chinese "daughters" from last summer. One of the highlights of the trip was discovering that I could now skype with them in China. It's called a "qq" number. They were so happy to help us get set up to be able to communicate with them. We gave them Bibles and cartoon books in Chinese that they can later share with their families back home.

They also taught us a new appreciation for some of their Chinese foods, and hopefully they enjoyed some of ours!

Our summer has also been filled with day trips t to Hershey Gardens and the Butterfly House and countless trips to my brother's pool. I am so thankful for his pool!(and my brother!)

It's also been a great summer just because my Honey has been home every weekend to share it with me. This is our first summer in eight years that he has not played baseball on weekends.


I hope you are finding ways to enjoy your summer! Would love to hear what you've been up to! And how you have stayed cool!
Tammy

Ni Hao!

Hello my dear friends --
I have been enjoying the busiest summer I can remember since kids! It started with a little idea to go camping, not once, but twice this summer. Then we returned home and my six year old decided she would like to have a talent show -- with all her friends. So we organized and "did all that." No sooner was that accomplished then it was time to pack up and head to the hills for more camping.

But just before we left for camping we received an urgent call from a friend that a bus full of Chinese students from the Hunan Province were coming to our area without a place to live for a week. Could two girls stay with us? OH YEAH!!! We had such a great time with our two Chinese students last year, that we couldn't wait to do it again. (although last year we had months to prepare...not hours!!)

Now as I sit here and type this, my girls and husband are anxiously wanting to know if I am ready to go to the pool on this unseasonably 102 degree day!! Another, Oh yeah!!

So here is where I will end for now .... so much more to write and tell later. Happy Summer!

Give Me Smores!!

Hello Summer Friends --
We are heading out camping again this weekend! It's our second time this season. I have to admit I am not looking forward to all the packing and cleaning up. BUT I am looking forward to the smores by the campfire.

 Isn't this picture just delightful? People are so clever!! I have the best recipe for smores!
It's a take on the "normal" version, but with a yummy twist.
Take half of a graham cracker and place 1/2 of a frozen chocolate bar on top. (It must be frozen and it must be half of the whole chocolate bar) Take a GIANT size roasted marshmallow and place on top. Then the graham cracker. Let me tell you ... when you bite into that frozen/hot combination of chocolate/marshmallow you'll never go back to the "normal" way again!
Try some this weekend!! I am!
Tammy

Sunshine Wishes

Hello Summer Friends!
If there is one thing true of me, it is that I love summer!!  Summer for me is all about the sun!

It means feeling the bright yellow rays beating down upon my arms, hanging out the car window. It means running and playing outdoors without thought to jackets or hats. Summer is all about lazy days at the pool. Splashing and being splashed. Having water dumped on me, only to have it dried up quickly by summer's intense heat. Ahhhhh.....summer! I could meet you here everyday without regret for cooler temps.

Summer is meant for lounging in the hammock as the sun sets. Or roasting  marshmallows at a campsite. Summer moments are spontaneous. Impulsive. Brilliant. Does sunshine make anyone grumpy? I can't imagine.

The sun makes me happy! I fling my curtains back. Throw my windows wide! "Welcome sun. We are happy to have you for as long as you will stay! And then some"

Pretty Things

Sitting back today and enjoying some beautiful pictures ..... Thought you might enjoy seeing them too! Garden table scene from centsationalgirl.com

Love this one from LLH Design. Reminds me of a setting in France. "Patisseries anyone?"

 Hope your day is filled with lovely things!

Happy Red, White and Blue

Hello Friends!
I hope you all are having a wonderful July 4th celebration where you are! I found this great saying on Pinterest recently and thought I would share it!

After reading that I was thankful that my summer reading includes a book called, One Thousand Gifts. It's a poetical story that trace's the author's ups and downs through life and how she is overcoming it through thankfulness. It's by Ann Voskamp.

Have a great weekend!

Palette Love

I've been inspired lately to build my own day bed from a palette. There are so many pictures online about all the amazing things you can do with skids -- that carry anything from groceries to tires -- that I decided to give it a try.
I have a fun-loving, crazy sister!

She was gung-ho to try this with me. Late one evening after the kids were tucked into bed, my sis and I headed out in my husband's F150 scouting for palettes to raid. We finally found two that were perfect for our daybeds.
I'm sure we looked like a sight from the highway that ran along the back of the store. We lifted and pulled and pushed and finally got an 8' and 4' palette onto the bed of the truck. We were on our way, so pleased with our finds and how creative we were going to be.
After purchasing eight casters, screws, ticking fabric and some pillows, my dumpster - slated palette was turned into a wonderful daybed for my sun room.

Now, this is what I see each morning when I look out to my sun room. I'm so pleased!

Now it's time to relax! Ahhhh!

Finally washed the dirt away

Happy Sunday!
My family just returned from a long weekend of camping. It's our first since the kiddos have entered the picture. Long overdue, but we have been trying!

When my oldest (now 6) was two we tried going tent camping 20 minutes from home. 10 minutes into the drive, she surprised us all by throwing up over herself and all our gear. Poor dear. Of course, we turned around and went home! We've tried multiple "back yard" camping trips since our now 4 1/2 year old was born, and finally last year we all slept soundly in the back yard.

And I am happy to say we had a successful first camping trip this weekend! The weather was beautiful. Our tent-site looked back on a woods with a meandering creek running through it. A fabulous adventure following this creek to the placid lake and beach area. Well worth the trip, if just that!

But, there was more. Sweet times with special friends who refresh like a cup of cold water on a hot summer day!

I was reminded of this verse from Psalm 11: "He who refreshes others, will be refreshed" I want to be refreshing, don't you?

All images found at: http://stinemos.blogspot.com/

Interior Spaces

I'm all about decorating and design, just like the next girl!

But today my decorating thoughts went Heavenward. It was with one thought. Interior Spaces. It was a breath of fresh air. A quiet whisper. A provoking thought. Profound.

I began to ponder if I take care of all my interior spaces -- heart, soul, body -- like I do my home. I'm still pondering that one, and thanking God for such a wonderful thought.

Enjoy your own weekend ponderings!

Three in a Hammock

I know my title says "Three in a Hammock" .... I can explain.
You see, I'm keeping this joy journal this summer. A little book that lists all my thanksgivings to God. It's in response to a book I'm reading called, "One Thousand Gifts." Have you read it? I highly recommend it!
Anyway, I really had a blissful time with my two girls today on the hammock. We sucked in the perfectly warm, sunshiny summer and laughed loudly with each swoosh we made in the hammock.
REALLY laughed. Laughed so all the neighbors could hear, I'm sure! (I hope they could laugh with us!)
It was great fun! Just that exchange of summer breath for summer breath. Squealing. Tipping. Swooshing! (I'll have you know, nobody fell out!! )
But, you know how it is when you are the sole cameraman and you are in the action. So, the picture I am sharing is not the three of us, but the beautiful children that are my girl's missionary friends to Africa. They visited with us last summer.
Oh, the joy of a hammock. Thank you Lord for such fun!
Smiling,
Tammy

Makin' Iced Coffee

Wish you could be here right now! It would be fun to have a little "girl's night" and sip some brewed java in a blue mason jar!
Ya gotta love those jars! And ya gotta love the coffee!
On my recent trip to Lucketts I picked me up some eight blue mason jars. They proudly sit on my kitchen shelves.
But this is where it gets better ......

When I make my own "home brew" and pour it into my quart sized jars -- now my drinking glasses -- and sip away.
Here's how I make mine: (the easy way!)
One Keurig Coffee Maker
One Donut Shop K-Kup Chocolate Glazed Donut
Large vintage coffee mug
Two teaspoons of Coffee Mate Hazlenut creamer
Pour it all over cubed ice

Somehow these darling little jars are even cuter when I'm drinking my iced coffee from them!! Y.U.M.