shopping trip finds

 A quick stop at the Luckett's store (well, if YOU saw these huge letters out front, you'd want to stop too, am I right?).

 The first pic from the barn sale at Buckeystown, MD.The Washington Post article on our local barn sales. This was also featured later in Southern Living.

 note the iron platform for a shoe atop the little box.

 old window.  crown stenciled/hand painted.

 This is why I really came -- to get one of these "game wheels" (that's what I'm calling them).  Alas, it was NOT to be.  The prices were a little too steep for my budget.   Oh well, a girl can dream can't she?

 Love the color and the numbers on this one.

 Cool shopping cart.  It's THESE type of things I see that make me take a minute to try and visualize life in the 40's or 50's... going through the grocery store (much smaller back then I'm imagining).  There's not even a place to put your child.  What did people do with their babies back then?  We didn't have the logical papoose! ;o)

 If I had a mudroom, this cubby with bench would've sooooo gone home with me.  It was a great price too.

 Industrial cart.  Lovely shade of brick red.

 Easy peasy felt pillows.

 Salvaged from an old plane?

 Propeller... nice bookend.

 I have loads of old wood from the platforms and the samples from the home interior business.

 crates. 

 LOVED, LOVED, LOVED these letters.  You know how I love the letters.

 Salvaged.

 see the basket at the bottom.  I thought I could cut the sample fabric into strips, braid them and then ball them up ... maybe old tshirts??

covered books.

save a turtle day

 I was driving home when I spotted this turtle on the side of road looking like he (or she) was waiting for the crossing signal to flash for him (or her) to cross the street.  Only problem was -- there was no such signal at this highly trafficked intersection.  So I did what I had to do.  I donned my red cape (aka a plastic Subway bag) and attempted to save this humongous turtle.  You think he'd be happy about it.  NOOOOOO WWWAAAYYYY!  long story short, a neighbor and friend pulled over and between the two of us and our umbrellas managed to garner the attention and amusement of many a passerby.  It  took a dad on his way to the school, to pull over, pull out his son's lacrosse stick from his trunk and literally flip our big friend on his merry and safe way.

angry cupcakes=indigestion?

What is the meaning of life? I know.

I have figured out the question as old as the dawn of man: What is the meaning of life?  The answer is simple... "God".  He is the meaning.  He is the Light, the Truth, Love, the Answer, the Healer, the Way, the Life.  The Life.  He is the Meaning. 

Don't worry.  I haven't gotten all philisophical on you. I just had some of the most awesome things happen to me.  I do not mean "awesome" as in "over-the-top great and positive".  I mean awesome as in, larger than anything I could have imagined. 

I witnessed my sister in law die.  I saw her come to the end of an over 20 year earthly struggle with her body.  I saw her bodily, physical presence here vanish as she made her way to see Our Maker, The One Who made all things, all creatures, all people.  We will miss her until we see her again.  We will miss her quirky sense of humor, her trust in the scary "youth of today, adults of tomorrow", her joyful spin on the veriest of the crazy, stressed out life we all live.  She was an inspiration in not these astounding feats of spreading joy and love, but in her humility.  In her quiet, unassuming, subtle way of being.  She would enter a group of other adults and opt to run with the gaggle of kids screaming their way through the living room.  She'd rather sit in a corner and fill out little scraps of paper to get them started on a treasure hunt than sit at the kitchen table and talk through the latest news.  She was destined to go to Him.  She was too good at living.

I witnessed a sweet little boy tragically leave this earthly existence.  He came from the most loving of families.  He was innocence and precociousness and all boy and all sweetness.  His mom loves her family fiercely.  She goes through the daily grind with an outpouring of love and care for her family AND her friends AND her patients, who just happen to be animals.  His dad is a quiet, strength of a man with an objective to make those around him smile.  He towers over most people with his physical presence, but he cleverly disarms you with his humor and instant friendship.  His two older sisters are his best of friends.  Sure, they may use him as a costumed player in their production or a partner in their squeals of joy and laughter, but make no mistake:  they'll do anything for their baby brother.  They are a family that God is proud of, I have to be sure of that.  So, that being said, of course our little baby boy had to go. He was too good at living.

I struggle with their departures.  I ache over them.  I cry and weep and sob and shudder at those they have left behind.  I feel a void. 

Then I remember.

God's Will.  God's Plan.  I struggle with both.  They seem to go against my nature.  Um.  Correction.  I guess it's more like MY will and MY plan seem to go against God's.  Just as I confronted my little friend's mother today about her son's leaving of this life, I have to remind myself that God's Son had to humble Himself so much to come down here and live as a man.  What exactly does that mean?  I heard it analyzed in this way... imagine yourself with all your knowledge, all your physical strength and coordination, have to transform yourself to exist as a worm.  You are limited (to say the least!).  In that way, how "limited" was Jesus to come save us in the state of a baby, then a boy, then a man?     He does have a plan.  I actually started calling it a mystery.  I guess I should amend that to "infinite mystery to which we will never find the answer". 

When we are hurt by this void, my only comfort does indeed come from the Lord.  I know my sister in law and my little friend ARE enjoying God's Beautiful Face right now.  I know that.  God, thank You for allowing me that huge comfort.  When I shed tears for their absence, I snap myself to attention and remind myself to be patient for the answer to that question.  There's no pain. There's only Love where they are.  

I love you all.  Every single person.  God created you so beautifully and so marvelously that in that fact alone, you are deserving of love and attention. 

Mama's Day

Today is OFFICIALLY Mother's day.  I am of the mind that thinks everyday should be Mother's Day.  My mom is the big wiener today... she and Dad left for Paris this morning.  Paris.  Wha-??  I'm excited for her.  This is their first trip abroad - Guam not included.

My Honey was so sweet today & stood at Starbucks for over 30 minutes just to get me a latte.  He also got me some flowers.  They all got me a clean house for my gift and I'm absolutely in love with it - the PERFECT gift!!

My son said I was the "best mudder ever."  My eldest said she loved my "squishy" hugs.  My middle one squeezed me HARD and said "this is how much I missed you (squeeze) times infinity."  She was away camping with her Brownie troop last night.  I have the best little peeps ever!

hellooo?? artist? are you in there??

lately i've been going on the web finding inspiration for my scrapbooking.  this has now taken me down a road that has proven full of not just scrapbookers, or croppers, but ARTISTS.  crafters.   now that word always evokes my childhood memories of growing up with my mom in the background peacefully cross stitching, crocheting, or sewing my clothes.  she made all kinds of things - floral arrangements, decorating the house, etc.  she was crafty.  i have never tried, now will i ever attain her level of craftiness (not that it's a competition, mind you... but still).  i will admit however, to having a desire or craving within to create, to admire the colors and put things together to form something new and beautiful in my eyes.  is that being a crafter?

apparently, it is.

here's my daily log of inspiration.  a map, if you will.  or more specifically, a flow chart.

still looking through logo shirts.  my fave at etsy. a vintage typewriter t at The Bold Banana

eventually, i ended up finding this cute, colorful key fob.  a gorgeous print @

Bink Waffle @ Etsy  i'm thinking "i need to start sewing!!"  a whole other world of creativity. 

isn't that the cutest??

2010. New Year. New resolutions.

New year means clean slate.  I plan to spend more time with my family.  There is so much rhetoric these days about family.  Family means so much.  Time with the family.  I know we all feel like we have less time and more things to be doing.  "Multitasking" is part of our vernacular.   I want to know that I'm actually LIVING that out.  This means more "face time" and less "computer time."  I have hereby weaned myself off of the insane Facebook and the even more ridiculous (and I can't believe I'm going to admit it...) Farmville.  It's quite paradoxical that the industrial and technological revolutions both aimed to save man more time by eliminating manual labor.  Instead, man devised more tasks to occupy said "freed time."  What does that say about "man"?  On the other hand, I've found my creative mojo again and am now trying to find a way to be artsy and be mom at the same time, with the same amount of time, I should say.  On that note, I'm outtie!!