The last day of 2011 and I spent it pickin'!  Just love my primitive white birdhouse!

Year in Review

As I reflect on the past year, I've experienced joy and pain.  However difficult the difficult times were, the times of joy were much more joyful. Since I am a new blogger, I'll share a little about myself as a means of giving expression to my feelings and to reminisce about the joys and pain.  Yes, it's good to experience the pain again-to feel the emotions.  Because I've been through enough to know He'll be enough for me.

Some moments that caused much emotion...

After 5 years of sickness, heartache, and pain, Daddy passed from this life only to begin new life with his wife of 65 years, a 5 year old son, a brother, a mother, and many friends.  As a pastor, there are now more on the other side than are on this side.  So he is happy and well and that brings me joy in the midst of the pain.  He left a legacy of love for my mother.  I read those love letters and am amazed at such love.  He lived only 6 months after she died.


In May, my son graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University with a Physicians Assistant degree.  He and his wife blessed our hearts with our first grandson on October 27.  New Life!  


All My Children

In May, we enjoyed our annual visit to Hilton Head.  How refreshing!  Like rain after a hot summer day!

After 10 years as an Activity Director in long-term care, I retired to go back to school.  Even with 3 A's in nursing, I knew it wasn't for me.  So much giving, so much loving and losing, and so much time and energy given to my parents and I'm just not ready to give again. 

BEFORE

For now, I am enjoying a new place of peace and quiet rest.  I enjoy an early AM cup of coffee with white chocolate and caramel creamer and my Maker.  I am enjoying new pleasures in His presence.  I am a part time junkie and manage a precious, little shop in a Georgia railroad town 3 days a week.  For the first time in my life, I am content with little.  I find pleasure in the simple things.  I enjoy the early morning...early morning walks, early morning reflection.  I'm not in a hurry to be anywhere.  I am simply waiting to hear from God about what my next step will be. 

AFTER

We've finished a small home renovation.  We gave our home of 27 years a facelift with new doors and windows, siding, and beams replaced.  We had a complete kitchen makeover, refinished our floors, and added carpet to our bedrooms. We are content with these small pleasures.

Yes, it's been a year of change, but we find ourselves enjoying this new place and look forward to enjoying more time wth our children and grandchildren.  Yes, I say "grandCHILDREN" because I believe!  Happy New Year! 

Old Window Creation

It's out with the old or should I say the new, and in with the new or should I say old.  I guess I could say, a little bit of both! Because I love making the old like new...and the new like old...Am I making any sense???

I have taken on several new hobbies which of course, includes blogging.  I admit I have much to learn.  And I will...with the help of my friend, Olive. She shares a few items with me in my simple little shop in my quaint little town.  I love her and I love her ideas. 

Since renovating my house and adding all new windows, I had to do something with the old ones.  I did what I do best...I sold them...all except for this one.  Thus, my newest creation.  Loving it.  Wish I had the mantle that so many of you bloggers have, but since I don't, the cabinet is my space to recreate. 

Happy New Year and Happy Blogging!

A Few Pennies: Old Galvanized Bucket

A Few Pennies: Old Galvanized Bucket

All is calm...all is bright

Silent night...holy night...all is calm...all is bright...My favorite carol ...always bringing a sense of peace. I can remember rocking my babies to this tune...something very reverent and holy about this hymn of Christmas. I sensed how Mary must have felt as she held the Christ Child...overwhelmed with the task that lay before her and yet feeling that all was calm and bright.

Tonight the tree is down, the ornaments are in boxes put away for another year and all is calm...all is bright.

I visited the grave of my parents today. Yes, in the midst of pain, there is peace and bright hope for my tomorrow...all is calm...all is bright.

I received several special gifts this Christmas. I enjoyed my first grandchild...my daughter gave me a special gift to remember the legacy left by her Nanny...a Willow Tree of a grandmother quilting(she made one for each grandchild as my daughter watched her sew many stitches), a daughter looking on, and the granddaughter sitting at her feet...the Christmas story now read by my brother instead of my dad was a priceless gift to us all-passing on the legacy to the great-grands...yes, all is calm and all is bright.

With Peace in my Heart and Bright Hope for tomorrow, I extend that same peace and hope to you my friends. May 2012 be filled with both!

Shiny Bright Christmas

So I just can't get enough of this tree. Just can't truly capture their true beauty. But trying to still my shaking hand and heart to get a clear picture.

My mom would pick my children up after school each day and my son would seek to find which ornaments she had added. He could always tell which ones were missing and how many she had added.

Talked to another thrifter a few days ago who is an exceptional photography. After a few pointers, I think you can tell from my most recent shots that I am getting better. She likes Shiny Brights so I photographed a few of my favorites pieces of milkglass with the ornaments added. Hope you enjoy!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

It's been fun creating new memories from the old-my mama's crytal ornaments greatly reflect the light and look like icicles hanging on my fresh frazier fur-a first in many years. Since my first blog, I have added evergreen and candles and light to my original display.

As you can see, I gathered my blue and white and shared them with my friends at the First Annual Ladies Christmas Banquet at our church. Over 100 ladies gathered with 10-12 tables decorated with various displays. Most of them were rather elaborate. However, being the simple thrifter that I am, I chose a quieter theme. Hope you'll enjoy!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

Treasure the Old and the New

Feeling a bit nostalgic tonight as I reflect on Christmas past and wait with eager expection for Christmas present. This will be the first Christmas when my daddy will not read the Christmas story from his Bible worn out from years of turning the now yellowed pages.

This circle of life is actually beautiful. The day that we buried my dad, we learned that we were expecting our first grandchild. Tonight I anticipate the ending of one era and the beginning of another.

I look forward to baking cowboy cookies this year with my own daughter as my mama did with me. I look forward to hearing the Christmas story told around my Christmas tree instead of my parent's tree. My tree holds a thousand memories. The children's old ornaments, though irreplaceable, have been retired for future generations and the branches on my tree are now heavy with ornaments that my kids enjoyed on my mom's tree. And yes, I will create new traditions and new memories for little Connor who blessed our lives on October 27 and many other grandchildren who will follow. How ironic that he was born on my parent's anniversary. Such wonder is too incredible for me to contain!

Yes, I hold the old memories near to my heart and look forward to making new ones from the old...treasures. Thank you, Lord, for the old and the new!

Simply Shabby Chic

This is my favorite corner in my sweet little home. This is my daughter's-turned-my-room. In this room is where I display my collection of Fenton white hobnail milk glass. The cabinet was handmade from old windows and distressed by a local vender. I bought everything in the corner locally. The mirror is heavy beveled and the glass is worn off in spots. I love it simply as it is. The chair is comfy. I wanted to paint the arms white and distress but it was so perfect I just decided to keep it as it is. Pink and white-my favorites!

Vintage Blue and White

I'm feeling a little "blue" today, as my mama would say, so I decided to do something with the blue. White always make me smile...white ironstone...white linen...white rooms...white slipcovers. All shades of white...ivory, country white, antique white. I'm dreaming of a White Christmas. Yes, even in the south and I'll be so blue without you...