Really Enjoying Fall

Hello Dear Friends --
So glad you stopped by! I don't tell you that enough, I know. Welcome! 
I have really been enjoying Central PA's Autumn weather. Today it was in the high 40's with bright, welcoming sun. I ran out into it like a kid. 
Wonderful, Wonderful sunshine! It's good for the soul!

I love bringing branches of Autumn's golds, reds and yellows into the house. Have you been decorating for the Fall season?

My sister treated my husband and I to a night out. She took the girls for a slumber party and I haven't seen them yet. Every mom needs that refreshing break from time to time. Thanks Tina!
We had so much fun taking a night hike on the Appalachian Trail and eating appetizers at Chili's. YUM!

We always pray that we'll see some wildlife on our night hikes! (Yes, we've taken them many times. Weekly in fact) While my husband it praying out loud to see some wildlife -- ANY -- wildlife, I'm praying silently, no bears please!! HA.  He doesn't know that about me. Please don't tell him. HA!

Last night we saw a young racoon climbing a tree. While we shined our flashlights on him, he stopped for a good five minutes and peaked around the tree trunk to watch us. He was absolutely adorable!

He reminded us both of a little koala bear. 

So I guess the world is gearing up for the approaching holidays. In my free time I ran out to TJ MAXX this afternoon and it was CROWDED! Really crowded!  I am not ready for filled parking lots, and crowded stores. I'm still enjoying this warm Fall, people!

Hope this Fall season finds you hopeful and cozy by a fire!
Tammy

Still Savoring Summer

Hello Friends --

We just returned from a fun week at the beach. I'm still in summer mode and hanging on to every ray of sunshine I can.
I'll have some Fall decorating pictures for you as soon as I can bring myself to start decorating. It might be awhile. HA!
Enjoy your last hours of Summer!
Warmly,
Tammy

Hello Friends --
I was blessed when I walked out into our sun room and saw how the sun was shining so boldly on our butterfly bush! It cast such a magnificent picture onto our curtain panel. His mercies are new every day! If I were in the habit of writing down blessings, this would be one of those. In fact, I just  might start that back up again!
Talking about starting back up ..... We are now full time in the throws of a new school year. We have set some fresh goals and my daughters have been coming to the table without complaint or argument. That is so refreshing for this mama/teacher!! I really appreciate that.

We've been in the business of making our own greeting cards. The girls had a birthday party to go to Saturday so they each created their own masterpiece. They were both very creative with themes of butterflys and gardens. Summer is not over yet!

Enjoy the rest of your summer days, my friends! We are trying to soak up the sun as much as possible.
I have some projects I am working on that I'll be sharing in coming posts!

Tootles,
Tammy

Summer Crafting

Hello Friends!
Somewhere in the midst of this beautiful summer time I found myself down in my crafting studio. Usually I go there as the cooler air brings Fall. But this time I think I retreated because of some days of intense, moist heat.

I was lucky enough to find a baby's crib sitting along the road for trash. I was so excited to put the spring of it to good use. I'm just loving how it looks above my work table!

Over time I've enjoyed creating journal books from cardboard, old books and paper bags. The one attached here is one of my favorites.

I've also been saving some jars from the grocery store (olives, jelly and so on) and painting their lids. They have such cute shapes and now with their cute lids and contents, I'm just smitten with the overall look.

I'm just loving this cute coaster I made out of popsicle sticks. Doesn't it look just like those palattes we see everywhere?

There's more to come on the crafting scene. But for now I want to leave you with this cool saying I just came across by  Ralph Waldo Emerson.

                      Live in the Sunshine
                      Swim the sea,
                      Drink the wild air.

Enjoy August,
Tammy 

Summer Looks Good on You

Greetings my Dear Friends --
We are in full Summer Celebration here. The girls finished school April 30th and it's been nothing but relaxation, utter laziness and sheer, sunshiny bliss. Need I say more?

I have been blessed this season to be surrounded by so many wonderful blooms. My next door neighbor has been a regular supplier of lilacs and rhododendrons. I am always so cheered to walk into a room with a vessel full of flowers. It just does something for me.

I've been changing up some areas in my sun room. I thought I would share some vignettes with you today! It's mostly pictures, so sit back and enjoy.

This little patio area is just outside our sun room door. It's so fun to watch the kids riding their bicycles in the drive with the birds chirping crazily above on phone lines. I think they enjoy the view too.

Enjoy the summer rays!!
Until next time,
Tammy

Eye Candy

Happy Hump Day Friends!
If you are like me, a little eye candy can go a long way to getting me through what might be otherwise a tough week.
If your week is taking some unexpected twists and turns, remember who to call on: Jesus!

Don't try to "clean up" and then cry out to Him. Cry out to HIM just as you are. Just where you are! Tell Him how you feel. Lay it all on Him.
He's waiting to hear from you. 

 Thanks to my sweet friend Kandi for these pictures. We had a wonderful time together along with my sister in Lucketts, VA recently.  Love you girlies!! 
tammy

What Every Girl Needs

Hello Friends -- 

I bought this new mixer on sale at Walmart.

It’s not anything special.

In fact it was the cheapest one I could find. 

Mixers don’t need to be pretty for me. Just functional. 

I was contemplating throwing away the beaters to my previous hand mixer. (It overheated when I was mixing too many rectangles of cream cheese at once. SEVEN IN ALL! Note to self: don’t blend more than three cream cheese blocks at a time) HA!

Then as I whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies today and then a batch of whoopee pies, I realized what every girl needs. TWO SETS OF BEATERS!  One for the chocolate chip cookies and one for the whoopee pies.

Of course I could have washed the one set and then used it again for the whoopee pies.

 I could have.

But I didn’t. 

That’s when I realized two sets of beaters make a girl’s life a lot easier. Have you ever been there? 

So that was my AHA moment for the day. I will always have two sets of beaters on hand. HA!

I would love to hear of any AHA moments you’ve had lately.

Tammy

Cute No Sew Apron How - To

Hello Sweet Friends --

Joining me today is my sister and fellow crafter, Tina. Tina and I share lots of things in common (besides our parents).  We both enjoy yummy coffee, big garlic pickles and laps around the Farmers Market. (That's a story for another time!)  And of course, creating!

Tina has made an adorable (adorbs, my 10 year old would say) denim kid's apron. She showed up days before Easter and gave them to her favorite two nieces -- my daughters! They were tickled. I was delighted.  Just look at these cuties.

My youngest is pointing out the sweet pocket at the bottom of her apron.

Today we put them to the real test. We baked and decorated eighty cupcakes! They held up to cake crumbs, icing that shot across the table (It wasn't my fault! HA) and dark chocolate fingers. Y.U.M.

Now we'll see if they survive a good washing!

If you like to re purpose things like we do, then you'll love this no - sew project. 1. Tina took the leg of an old pair of jeans and ripped it apart so the leg was layed out flat. And that my friends is the body of the apron. So far so good, right?
2. Then she took another piece of denim and used fabric glue to fasten it midway down the apron.
3. She took those two patch work hearts from another clothing item and fabric glued them on as well.  You just have to go with it, friends and not worry about how it's supposed to flow. Make it yours as you do it. That's the fun of it.
4. Lastly she punched two holes at the top and just below the waist and put twine through to create ties for the neck and waist.

She put a little fabric glue at each hole to give the twin a little more strength and that was it. TA-DA! That simple and cute, friends. Don't you just wanna start rippin' your old jeans apart? HA!

As I looked at the aprons hanging against the wall I envisioned cute, denim bags. Hmmmmm...now where did I put those old jeans of mine?

Have fun creating!! 
Tammy

Some Good Books

Hello Dear Friends --
Since it's been so cold here lately with (ahem) no end in sight, I've been taking advantage and burning the midnight oil. I won't want to do that on the first Spring day. Which is supposed to be in about 20 days, right? I hope so!
Have you gotten copies of Jesus Calling and Jesus Today? They are both excellent devotionals written by Sarah Young in the first person narrative. Listen to this, "I will fight for you; you need only to be still. I know how weary you are, my child. You have been struggling just to keep your head above water, and your strength is running low."  That gives me chills. Sometimes the days reading just grips me and I know the Lord has something special in it just for me. And the way it's written, I really feel like Jesus is right there. Talking to me (sigh).  And of course, He is right there. It's so good to be reminded!
My man and I are reading You and me Forever by Frances and Lisa Chan. If you do nothing else go online and look up the title of the book and watch the videos. They also have a free copy of the book online. I'm kinda old fashioned and enjoy holding a book in my hands. There's nothing like dog- earing a book over and over or highlighting it until the marker drys out. That's how good this book is. Just sayin'. And if that weren't enough, every book you purchase benefits children in poverty and helps to end sex-trafficing. That's 100% of the proceeds from the book. For me, that's worth every penny and then some.

Do you see my little chalk board sign up there? Frances Chan speaks about staring at God. Just meditating on Him daily. Telling Him I love Him. Meaning it. Telling Him I can't do this moment without Him. Because I really can't! Praising Him. Blessing His name by recalling how He has blessed me. I like to stare at Him. If you try it, don't give up. Be persistent and tell Him to draw you close to Him. He will. Just wait.

The sun has gone down now and I'm reminded of two new books I just read reviews for. The author is David Platts. He wrote Radical: Taking Back your Faith from the American Dream and his latest is Counter Culture. I can't wait to get copies of those and do some highlighting. Reading good books like these are so good for the soul. I want their truths to sink in and penetrate and change my perspective on life. I pray my life displays it.

And I have to giggle at these titles. I've dug deep into my cubby holes and found my fifteen copies of Nancy Drew that I've hung on to since my teen years. Oh, I was so absorbed with these. Nothing has changed!!! I know. Crack me up! I thought my almost ten year old would like them, and I was right. Before I could get them all out to see which I wanted to read she had scooped them all up and hauled them to her bedroom. I'm on mystery number three right now and she's not far behind. hee hee.
So have you read anything good lately? I would love to hear. Hope you are enjoying these winter months despite chilling temps. in many parts of the world.
Happy March! Spring, please come soon!
Tammy