LOST IN BLOGVILLE and Finds in Neverland

I seem to have lost touch 

with so many of my blogging buddies. 

I know that I use blogging 

as a way of expression 

and sometimes fail to comment

on others as I should.

I scrolled down my reading list 

and found that many of my friends 

are no longer

reading, writing, or redoing-

pickin', huntin' or junkin'.

I feel lost in blogland. 

Friends come and go

in the real world.

I guess that's no different 

in blogville.

We are just too busy.

What I need the most, 

I find I lack the most-

real community.

Sometimes we need to go 

where everybody knows our name, 

but sometimes we just want 

to go where nobody knows our name. 

I went to the nobody-knows-my-name place

and found these...

Okay, so this was AFTER 

Southern Honey Workshop

"Chawk" paint.

Sorry there is no BEFORE.

The back was out.

Against a wall 

and for $9, 

who cares!

Distressed it just enough for me!

This is a lovely little piece

with great bones, 

better than above,

however, 

it was finished with another paint.

Can't you tell the difference?

The white stool was another find

at the place

"Where Nobody Knows my Name."

Frames are a big seller in my corner.

It took an hour to get

to the place of the unknown.

I went alone.

It was raining and flooding.

Seriously!

We had 8 inches that night!

I made three wrong turns.

(Some roads do not exist 

in the GPS world.)

The auction barn was in a

field.

Oh, what a night!

I'm glad there's ONE

who is always with me, 

who calls me by name.

With HIM, 

I am never alone

even when I am lost!

Thinking of YOU,

BONNIE:)

HOME: Where the Heart Is

I am coming home.

I resigned my job at the bank

in a neighboring county

and I am coming home. 

There's nothing quite like home.

Home is not just a location.

As they say, 

"Home is where the heart is."

My heart is in many places 

so I find "home" to be 

more than one place. 

It's where I am 

when  I'm with my children

and my big boy, 

Nashville, TN.

It's where I am 

when I'm spending time with the man

whom I've loved 

for more than 35 years.

It's the quiet moments of 

the early morning 

when I'm alone with my Maker,

whether I'm sitting on the sofa 

in my living room 

or the sands 

of the seashore 

basking in HIS wondrous creation.

It's where I am when I'm 

giving and sharing with 

a group of young people 

who are REAL,

who truly desire to know 

that God is REAL

and that 

Someone loves them.

It is with this group that I am free to be 

REAL-

known and loved anyway.

It's where I am when I'm creating

because God created

and continues to create beauty from ashes.

He constantly reminds me to 

come HOME.

He reminds that my frame was not hidden from 

Him when I was made in the secret place. 

Home, 

where the light is always on

and the door is always open.

Tonight, 

my heart feels at home, 

Bonnie:)

Finding Community in a Painting Class

I'm still trying to figure out 

what I want to be when I grow up.

Can I get an amen, sisters?

In this world of blog land, 

it seems like we 50+ Ladies 

are dappling in a bit of this and that.

I've started helping my husband 

with a special group

of college and career youth.

I think we can relate

because they are kinda in limbo transition

and so am I-

in-between the in-between, 

if you know what I mean.

These girls are teaching me a little bit 

about a lot of things:)

To the left is a newly college freshmen,

to the right, a soon-to-be graduate student,

and the middle is a second year teacher.

The sweet girls on the left and right are sophomores

and the middle is in her practicum, 

looking for a part-time job, 

and getting ready for graduate school.

A few nights ago,

the guys played corn hole, 

while the girls painted.

This sweet girl leaves tomorrow.

She did this for me.

I told her I'd pray for her

every time I looked at it.

She told me to finish it. 

I was afraid that I'd mess it up.

But I tried anyway.

During our Wednesday night Bible study,

we've been talking about some pretty 

heavy stuff.  

STUFF

questions, doubts, fears, 

frustrations with "religion."

We all agreed that

WE NEED COMMUNITY.

And that it's not about "religion."

It's about a Relationship (God) and relationships (each other).

Jesus said the two greatest commandments were

1.  Love the Lord God with your entire being

2.  Love your neighbor as yourself.

We talked in length about the complexity 

and yet simplicity of God-

Father, Son and Spirit

Three in One

and loving Him with all we have.

If we truly know His LOVE

then we are free to love others. 

The saying around the circle is, 

"One of the greatest needs of man is to be known and loved the same."

I said this, I read this and didn't know the impact that it would have on these students.

I was blown away when one of my girls messaged me a photo

of a painting in which she had included this saying.

We all have a need for unconditional love,

not love based on performance or

how "good" we are

or what others expect of us.

We want to be known, truly known, 

the REAL THING kinda known, 

and loved anyway.

She said, 

"Make it pretty,"

and I tried.

Added the year our home was established...

Distressed it a bit...

 and it was all ready for display.

LOVE!

Pray that God will grow this group 

in transition.

They are helping me as much as I desire to help them.

Prayers for those who go

and for those who stay

and for others who will join us.

Bonnie:)

Southern Honey Workshop Chalkpaint

Fall is in the air.

The temp here is in the upper 60's.

I DO LOVE, Love, love it!

My favorite time of year.

Know why?

I just don't do HOT!

and

it's a great time for pickin'.

College students are looking to 

furnish apartments.

And parents are headed 

to the bargain barn.

Just dropped by the Flea Market today

and my shelves were almost empty.

I got busy tonight with 

a little 

Southern Honey Workshop

Chalk paint

and a bottle of brushes.

My daughter who lives in Nashville

got me a can of "Nanny."

I just love the name and the color!

It goes on incredibly smooth.

Sorry, Annie Sloan, 

but you ain't got nothing on Southern Honey!

Before...

After

I know, I know.

You red-lovers liked it better before.

But you know me, 

white is my passion.

I'm selling these for my daughter.

I mixed and got all shades of white.

This is the new stack.

I like this one...

and this one...

and this one...

well, SHOOT, 

I Love them all!

Taking these to the booth on Saturday morning.

(I left a few red

for those of you who don't do white.)

The rest of the day will be spent 

with a can of

Southern Honey Workshop

chalk paint,

paintbrushes, and a few small pieces 

of furniture to fill my booth.

TGIF!

Bonnie:)

Weekend Getaway and a House Full of Antiques

Our Mountain Weekend Getaway

was more than I ever imagined

it could be.

The road was long and winding.

Of course, I got car sick.

I was hoping we'd make it through, 

"Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise."

Well, the creek did rise!

And I thought we were lost several times.

But we made it, and

the view from the top was spectacular.

Rocking chairs on the back porch 

and the cool morning and afternoon rains,

made for an inviting place to retreat, relax, and refresh.

Yes, I BELIEVE!

The cabin was full of antiques and vintage items.

What I would love to do with this glider.

It's just rusting away, maybe the owner will sell.

You think?

Stained glass windows like this one

hung on the front and back porches.

Every room was full of antiques

and every room had mirrors.

You know my love for old mirrors 

and the natural peel.

The upstairs bathroom was unfinished, 

The laboratory was the exception.

BEEEEEUTIIIIFULLLLL!

Five and Tens still exist

in some remote places

of the world.

Mr. H said, 

"I'm taking us to a hole in the wall for breakfast."

I didn't know he meant 

a REAL 

"Hole in the Wall."

It was YUMMY!

And the food wasn't too bad either.

Vintage fishing gear

And old fashioned light fixtures

adorned the wall.

Antiques are wonderful, 

but these beauties

 CAPTURE my heart 

and take my breath away

EVERYTIME!

And this one MELTS my heart with just a smile!

Oh, what I'd do for a whole week of this!

Hope you'll get your getaway soon!

Everyone deserves it!

Bonnie:)

Distressed Mirror and Distressed Mirror-Turned-Chalkbaord

I love mirrors.

They are my most popular sale.
I actually sold three this month.

I added two this week.

Both distressed and one chalkboard painted.

Looking forward to a great week!

Hope you are too.

Bonnie:)