Avion Take Me Away!

In the midst of all my busy-ness I hear the voice of a dear friend calling, "I'm patiently waiting on your attention." The voice of our dear family friend that has gone with us on so many family adventures...



Soon, dear friend, we'll load you up, hitch you up to our faithful ole Dodge and head out for a time of refreshment and relaxation. After graduation and VBS are over...after loved ones have returned to their far away homes...after life settles down to routine... But for right now, I'm enjoying all the excitement of family, friends, events....just enjoying what life is bringing. I know you'll be there when we can find the time to enjoy you.

And, if I listen very closely, I can hear the voice of another Dear Friend...

Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10



Yes, Father, your child remembers and is thankful for Your peace and for the many blessings in her life.

Pink Saturday

It is a busy time around our home right now. We have a family reunion, a high school graduation, and a homecoming in the next eight days. Yes, life is busy, but it's fun and exciting! My crafts and projects are patiently waiting for me to return to them. I decided to picture a few of my projects, some old, some new, some future.

My little Matryoshka doll makes me smile every time I catch a glimpse of her sitting among the throw pillows on my wicker love seat. I fashioned my own pattern and made her out of happy, smiley colors.



I needed a place to stash some spools of my HUGE thread collection, but didn't have anything I felt was suitable...meaning pink, so I used rose-printed wrapping paper and lined a clear cookie jar. Voila...



...and a peek on the inside...



My sewing basket is stuffed and just begging me to make something from the overflow. Ideas are floating around in my head and one day soon they will materialize.



The needlepoint work on top of my sewing basket, alone, should be inspiration enough to get me started crafting again. I was so happy when I found this little basket at a flea market. I have never seen a basket on legs like this one...and with roses on top? There was no way I could come home without it. It has been by my side for several years now, just like a good friend.



Please drop by Beverly's place for a list of all the Pink Saturday participants this week. Now I'm off to cook for that family reunion!

Roses and awards

CC at Lace 'n' Ribbon Roses is a most caring and generous soul. I already knew this, but she has proved it even more. You see, she had a terrible fall at work on Monday morning, and even though in pain, she has managed to sit at her computer and bless ten friends by passing on a blog award she received. And, I am honored to be one of the recipients. Thank you sweet CC for sharing your blessings.



Now, being the homeschooling mom that I am, I had to go to Mr. Webster's dictionary and look up the word "trendy," or more specifically "trend." This is the definition: the general direction or course; drift. Well, I'm not too sure my blog lives up to the first part of the definition. I don't really know if my blog is going in the general direction of other blogs, but the second definition, "drift," certainly applies. I do tend to drift from subject to subject, many times in the same post. So, dear CC, I humbly accept the award and thank you for it.


Here is how I view my blog...



It's just a bud, waiting to find out what it will grow into. It looks around at other blogs and wonders if it will ever be as beautiful and well-developed as those when it matures. It is always asking, "What am I going to be when I grow up?"


And, here is how I view other blogs that I frequent...



My little blog is so inspired by the many full-blown, interesting, beautiful blogs around it. Maybe some day, as the days unfold, just like the petals in a rose, my blog will grow into something of beauty that will bring joy to others.

To keep this award going, I would like to pass the honor on to these very deserving blogs:

Cottage
Conversational Carmelina
Creative Breathing
Darling Petunia
Decorating My Tin Shack
Happier Than a Pig in Mud
Homemade Quilts by Granny
Living Beautifully
Night Stitcher
Pom Pom's Ponderings

Here is how to keep the award going:

To receive this award, promise to share this with 10 other blogs that you think are Trendy too.
Post about your award in your blog.
List your Top 10 Trendy Blogs.
Share with them.
Leave a link to the Trendy Blog Button.

Blazing Pink Saturday

It is sooooo hot in Alabama today. How hot is it? Too hot for this blogger to be inspired. Too hot to think up witty things to make my readers smile. Too hot to cook supper. I think an ice cream supper would be in order tonight. It's 84 degrees in the house right now with 200 percent humidity! Think I'm kidding don't you? Well...it is 84 degrees and the only way I have of checking the humidity is by how it feels, so it must be 200 percent, at least. So, because of the heat, and because of my lack of inspiration, I am bringing you random pink pictures from around home. And all my pinks are HOT this week.

My roses...



...my Clematis...


...and last but not least important...my new housecoat, for which I have plans later. When the sun starts to go down and the temperature drops some I plan to take a cold shower and slip into my soft terrycloth robe and chill out.



Be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound on this hot Pink Saturday.

Healthy Eating

Ever notice how it's easier to eat healthy in some seasons than it is in others? Take Winter and Fall for instance, I crave warm, rich comfort foods...chicken and dumplin's, macaroni and cheese, hot biscuits, chocolate cake...the list goes on and on. But then comes Spring and my tastes turn to healthier fresh fruits and vegetables. As soon as we get our vegetable plot turned and the little seeds covered I start craving fresh squash, corn, and okra. So, off to the market I go to buy a few things to pacify my cravings until our garden begins to offer up its bounty.

Home again, my mouth is watering as I pull out my big cast iron skillet and get it heating while I wash, peel, and chop up the fresh-from-the market vegetables. I chop up smoked sausage and listen to the satisfying sizzle as I transfer it to the now hot skillet. Love that smell! Then I add my veggies.



It is cooked to perfection in only minutes. My, such a tasty and healthy meal when served over brown rice.



Hmmmm, now what? I think I am just wired to need a sweet after my meals. Well, I did buy those fresh sweet strawberries today. I wonder if they will satisfy my sweet tooth. Yeah, they'll satisfy my sweet tooth, but what about my fat tooth?



I have to think about this one for a little while. Then Taylor comes through with the perfect idea, "Mama, strawberries just beg for cheesecake." Now I can't let these beautiful berries down can I? Okay, I'll make a cheesecake and turn the needy little beggars into a sauce to drizzle on top. Now! We're all happy...the strawberries, Taylor, my sweet tooth, and my fat tooth. I love making everyone happy. I'm loving Spring!

Happy Mother's Day !

Mother's Day brings back so many beautiful memories, one especially clear in my mind...running up the street on Mother's Day morning with my older sister to Mawmaw's house where we would pick some of her roses to wear to church that morning. We proudly pinned our roses on our dotted swiss dresses that Mama had made for us. Everyone wore a rose to church on Mother's Day...red if your mother was still living...white if your mother had passed away. I wonder if that is just a Southern tradition?




I haven't worn a rose to church on Mother's Day in years. I had almost forgotten that beautiful tradition, but my rose bushes, heavy with their beautiful, fragrant blooms made me think of it this year. I think I'll go out and choose the perfect one to wear to church today to honor my mama. I am so blessed that I can still wear a red rose. My heart goes out to all that have to choose a white rose this year.


This is a picture of Mama, me, and my sister, Elaine. I was just a few days old when this picture was made.



My mama has been, and still is at the age of 80, such a good role model for her girls. She gave so freely of her time and love. She sacrificed so much for us. She spent endless hours cooking our meals, sewing our clothes, waiting on us while we took piano lessons...the list goes on and on. I am so blessed to have a mama that loves me and has always been there for me.

I am also blessed to be a mother to three precious grown-up children. And to make this Mother's Day even more special our family has added a son-in-love since last Mother's Day. I won't get to go to church with Mama today, and all of my children won't get to be with me, but I won't be sad because our heart strings tie us together.

And, since it is Mother's Day, maybe my children will forgive me for posting this picture of us on Mother's Day 1992. I couldn't resist. Do you still love me kids?

L to R: Preston (age 9), me holding 2 month old Taylor, Heather (age 6)



I wish a Happy Mother's Day to every mother and every mother's child. Be Blessed!

Pink Saturday

To market, to market to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggity jig.



Yes, I did get my fat pig...



but I also got this...



and these...



Oh you naughty market, why do you entice me with all your pretty pinks? I feel like a naughty little girl coming home with all these pink treasures. Only one of them was on my grocery list. Oh, but the others made me smile. How could I not bring home smiles?

Be sure to join Beverly and all the other Pink Saturday participants this week. They are sure to give you a smile. And please come back on Sunday. I have a special Mother's Day post planned. Have a great Pink Saturday!