There's nothing gloomy about this little snaggle-toothed precious is there? Surely not! Isn't she a cutie? But what if I told you her story includes a dangerously unstable shack in the middle of a Brazilian slum ... with raw sewage running down the pot-holed dirt "street" outside the front door? What if I told you her father's not in the picture because he's serving a life sentence for murdering her mother? What if I told you her older sister started using drugs routinely before she was 11 years old, and no one did anything to stop it ... because that's just the way it is? What if I told you this little sweetheart had started down the exact same path? What then? Would the gloom begin to ... Keep Reading...
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A HANDFUL OF FLOWERS: Late Summer Tablescape
Summer is drawing to a close, and the flowers of Summer are disappearing in the garden. I picked a few of the last late-season blossoms to share with you ... as well as a few encouraging thoughts for the season ahead. A Handful of Flowers by Mary Dow Brine (1816-1913) Summer is gone, and the autumn winds Are stripping the leaves from the trembling trees; The garden is lonely, its treasures are blown Far, far away on the chilling breeze; The skies have lost their wonderful blue, And darken and change with the changing year; And the dead leaves lie on the roadside brown, Since nature has grown so sad and drear. I walked alone o'er the garden path: My heart was troubled with gloom and doubt. "Alas!" I ... Keep Reading...
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NOTECARD PARTY: Handmade
Happy Tuesday! Can you believe it's already time for another Notecard Party at A Haven for Vee? The guidelines are to choose four pics that have already been shared here at My Place ... so that's just what I did. This month, I've chosen the theme HANDMADE. I think these might make nice individual notecards, but I don't think I'd put them together in a set. See what you think ... Click HERE to read The Carpenter and the Staircase - Loretto Chapel (Santa Fe, NM) Click HERE to read A Stitch (Back) in Time Saved: Treasure in a Trunk Click HERE to read A Tray of Tranquility - My Time in a Brazilian ... Keep Reading...
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How Wishing for a Well Turned Into Dinner With Richard Simmons
Here I sit, shaking my head and laughing. I'm about to tell you a(nother) story of God's unbelievable, crazy-creative provision for the children of Hope Unlimited. Settle in. This one's a doozie! If you visit here often, you'll probably recall that I blogged every day on our recent trip to Brazil. I told you lots of stories ... but not this one. When we arrived at the City of Youth, I noticed these trucks. We were told there had been problems with the water, and that a new well was required. Hmmm... A new well costs more than a little cha-ching, and I knew it wasn't in the budget. How would they pay for this? We were told that the month before, a call came "out of the blue" from a man living in ... Keep Reading...
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Does Your Husband Tablescape?
Can you believe it? After weeks of very little tablescaping, the mood struck this morning, and I prepared a sweet little table to share with you. It'll have to wait ... Instead, while I was doing some work for my sweetheart, he fired up the smoker and surprised Yours Truly with smoked chicken, fresh corn, heirloom tomatoes, and crowder peas from the garden. And freshly-brewed iced tea ... in a crystal pitcher. And flowers. He surprised me with those, too. No wonder I call him Renaissance Man! How did I ever get so lucky? Seriously ... the man can cook! Apparently he tablescapes, too ... It's amazing what happens when the weather starts to turn ... Keep Reading...
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When A Blogland Friend Disappears …
Early in the Summer while riding along the highway, I thought of her. Kelley. Writer of the blog Kelley Highway. Do you know Kelley? She and her husband are missionaries in the Philippines. I realized she hadn't been around My Place in awhile ... and I hadn't stopped by to visit her either. Time to remedy that! I pulled out my iPad, linked up to the iPhone Hotspot, and typed in her address. I was ready to see this ... Instead, I saw this ... Whaaaaaat? Since Kelley and I had previously emailed from time to time, I had her address -- so I contacted her to see if Blogger had done something crazy ... like kidnap her blog! I've heard of ... Keep Reading...
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Where Are You Carving Your Name?
Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. Charles Spurgeon I've been attempting to carve my name on hearts lately, so I've been a bit absent here. As much as I've missed you, it's the right choice. I know you'll agree. I'll get back in the swing of things soon ... During this really busy Summer of travel for my husband, it's been nice having him home for a few days ... spending time together canning and freezing our harvest. Making Spider-Man birthday memories with Little Man ... Will someone please tell me where the past 4 years have gone? Helping with design work for a church project -- a new entrance for an old cemetery; a living gift from one spouse to another. There's more, but you get the ... Keep Reading...
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Painting My Old House Porch: The Rest of the Story
Happy weekend! Remember when I told you we'd had the front porch of our old house painted after a roof leak took 106 years of paint back to the raw wood? Well, there was more to the story. When you're blessed with an old house, there always is ... And remember when I told you how to have hanging ferns that are the envy of the neighborhood? Well, those gorgeous ferns are part of the same story. The not-so-pretty part. This past week, it was the wood porch floor that needed attention. You see, a few weeks ago when the wrap-around porch was being painted, we noticed that some of the floor boards across the front of the house were damaged. Strike that. They were rotten. Why? Because years ago, when we hung ferns for the first time, ... Keep Reading...
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Memory-making and Magnolias …
This week's tablescape is a reprisal of one I shared a couple of years ago. Based on the results of my recent Reader Survey, it will be new to many of you ... This tablescape features a favorite Southern flower: the magnolia. I'd never had a magnolia tree in my yard until we bought our old house, but there was a big one in the back yard. I got so excited thinking of the gorgeous blossoms and fragrant breezes it would provide. But when we began plans for adding a garage at the back of our house, Renaissance Man said the magnolia would have to go. I don't THINK so! We started negotiating ... and adjusting the plans ... and finally, together, we came up with the perfect solution. The tree would ... Keep Reading...
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The Ministry of Music
Yesterday I had the privilege of singing at a celebration of life service for a friend who died very suddenly and tragically a week ago. She was older than me by 20 years, but the church choir was our "common ground." I'm so thankful I was in town to join fellow choir members in tribute to Jan as we sang two of her favorite songs. One of the pieces was Chris Rice's Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) ... because Jan especially loved its text. It's one of my favorites, too. There's just something about this song that touches the deepest part of my soul, especially when I'm singing. Today, no matter what season of life you're in -- or what's happening in your life -- let this song minister to you ... Keep Reading...
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Two Quick and Easy TRIFLE BOWL Recipes: A Favorite Summertime Salad AND Dessert
My goodness! Where has this week gone? I sat down to do a quick tablescape post (thinking it was Wednesday) only to realize today is Thursday ... already. AND it's afternoon ... already. Oh, well. Could it be my attention has been elsewhere? Yours, too? George Alexander Louis His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge July 22, 2013 8 lbs. 6 oz. Source But what really occupied my time ... Perhaps the recipes I'm sharing with you today will be worth the wait! I made both of them last week when we had a 20-year-old house guest -- and they were a hit! I like that they're both "make-ahead" and offer a quick and easy way to get food on the table at the end of a busy ... Keep Reading...
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Are You My Typical Blog Reader? SURVEY SAYS …
Three years ago today I hit "publish" on my very first blog post. My debut tablescape raced into Blogland, and my heart raced right along with it, as I wondered what I was getting myself into. Would there be anyone "out there" to receive me with the same sense of friendship I was extending? There was! Some of you have been there since Day One, and I'm still amazed by that. Thank you for being such wonderful friends! After a few months, I shared more of myself with you besides tablescapes ... and then a little more ... and then I started challenging you ... until sometimes recently I've wondered if I'm running you off. That's why I decided to take my recent Reader Survey. I needed some feedback.You're ... Keep Reading...
