memories of Christmas ... my men

 

I was playing around with photos .... and looky here ... my men!

FRIDAY 3

 
 
 
This Friday my 3 collections are ..... baskets (as in Longaberger Baskets), the letter R (what words can you think of that begin with "R") and my watering cans. There is a looOOOoooooOOOong story about Longaberger and how they rescued us ~ the St. Louis Looney Ladies aka: the turkey ladies!... excellent company! The R of course is for my last name (it was my maiden name tooo) and the watering cans just caught my attention! have a great weekend. m

bedrooms

 
 
 
the first photos is the (ugly) view outside of the master bedroom. NO landscaping ... next major project ~ ideas, suggestions ... all are being taken into account. Second photo is the master bedroom. And lastly, the guest room! I promise promise promise to give you views of the outside from the front door too! Tomorrow is Friday 3 ~ 3 more collections. xoxox, m

the CENTER of our home ....

 
 
 
 
the dining room is right off the front door. I personally love the dining room and use it often. Then it melds into the family room ... where we rest, hang out and enjoy TV and the kitchen is behind the family room. Darlin' D wanted a pub-table for our eating table and it works wonderfully. I'm decorated for St. Patty's day already so you see all of the green around. The Kitchen the CENTER of our home ... we talk, plan, laugh, cook, talk some more, plan some more and cook a little more! We tend to hang out in the kitchen! Tomorrow I'll end the tour ... the guest bedroom and our bedroom. A restful and relaxing place to be ... until then ~ xoxox, m

continued ~ the HOUSE

 
 
 
 
here are our 'workrooms, aka: offices'. I have my room (first photo) and darlin' D has his own room! the last 2 photos are different angles of the back wall of the garage ... an extension of darlin' D's office ... due to his massive loving collection and memorablia!! tomorrow I'll show you photos of the family room (where we LIVE!), the dining room and the kitchen ... where we enjoying cooking together.

bathrooms ... 2.5

 
 
 
 
well, some of you have asked .... let us see your FINISHED home! here are the 2.5 bathrooms. The first one is the 'white' bathroom it is located off of the studio. Down the hall next to the guest room (available to one and all! ~ especially out-of-staters!!) is the 'hawaii' bathroom. And lastly, the master bathroom ... it has 2 showerheads (I know, I'm spoiled) and the toilet closet has a picture of Balboa and the wedge (Newport Beach, CA). tomorrow I'll highlight our work rooms (aka: the studio ~ mine and the library ~ darlin' D's) ... and the garage b/c it is actually an extension of Doug's collections!! until then, toodles ~~ m

Hebrews 12:2-3

Hebrews 12:2-3 (New International Version)
2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
JESUS loves you. How do we fix our eyes on Jesus? Daily through our thoughts, actions, what we read, what we listen to ... He came for you, all because He loves you. He died for you ... you were bought for a price ~ a huge price ... what will you do for Him? today?? And your past, present and future has been forgiven for all who call Him Jesus, my Savior, my Resurrected Redeemer. Consider what you will do today. all because of Christ, m

Mary Moo's Dollhouse

 
 
 
 
ALL unpacked ... I mean EVERYTHING ... including the garage! lOOk at this dollhouse! Great Grandpy (Archie Ledford, Butler PA) built this. It's a semi-replica of The Fitch Tavern in Bedford, MASS. That was Darlin' D's 2nd childhood home. So, I cleaned it up ... and my cow collection of Mary Moo's reside in it ..... LOOK AT THESE!!

Friday 3 ~ as in collections

 
 
 
I have decided to do a Friday 3 ~ as in collections that I own (or want to own). Here are these .... 3 C's = Coca-Cola bottles (technically these belong to Darlin' D ~ but I live with them!!), Candy (YES! Pez dispensers!!) and Cows (as in Mary Moo's Monthly collection). I laugh and smile at myself ... what I collect usually changes as I travel and as the wind blows. So here are the 3 for this Friday. As you can tell I have NOT decided how to display (or even to play with) the candy and the cows. I think I may put the cows in the doll house that great grandpy built of the Fitch Tavern (of which I own!) ~ many moons ago! EVERYONE is invited to come on over to see my stuff and we'll sit a spell and sip some iced tea! I'd love to hear from you all, any ideas and or suggestions ?!! leave a comment of your collections.
happy weekend, xoxo, m

Isaiah 40:8

 
I have always loved (loved!!) this verse .. and it's in my new magazine that I got today. The magazine is life:beautiful (faith for your journey). I know I received it late because of the address change; still I enjoy it! We also dedicated the house before the walls went up with scripture and this one is in (my) the studio!!

going Green ...

okay, this is an issue for some and should possibly be for most! What do you do to 'live green?' I know some fanatics ... of which I am not, but I'm doing small pieces of this. What I have done is never using plastic food bags .. yep, I carry my reuseable bags with me. I bought a big RED one in Lesotho and it is my very favO'rite one to use. I have a small green bag that holds the bread excellently. And some (more than NOT!) the stores will give you a .5 - .7 cents refund per bag. OKAY, that may NOT sound like a lot .. but let's do a little bit of math. There are 52 weeks a year and I probably don't shop 4 of those ~~~> so, I'm saving only 2.88 BUT I don't have the plastic that won't ever ever ever go away .. and it makes me feel great! water around here is a HUGE issue .. so, we have water-saving everything! and what else can and are doing to do the GREEN THING? xoxo, m

Collections ...

 
 
 
We all have them whether we want to or NOT! COLLECTIONS ... of ?!! here are just 3 of mine ~ seashells (everyone collects these!), walking sticks and matches. Remember when we all collected matches?!! My favO'rite collection is MY FRIENDS!! Happy Friday everyone ... what do you collect currently, what would you like to collect? xoxox, m

PIE as in Fudge Pie!!

Old-Fashioned Fudge Pie

Ingredients:
2 squares (2-ounces) semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the chocolate and butter together in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat and add the sugar, then the eggs; beat well. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 25 minutes or until just set. Serve warm or cold, with ice cream or whipped cream.
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 28 min

girls, this is way way way (understand me?!!) easy and so so so (I'm not kidding!) good!! It can be dressed up too ~ enjoy

F R I E N D S ..............

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are!!! They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.
xoxo, m

mini~me ... darlin' D

 
 
This is a hoot!! This is what greeted me this AM for coffee! It's a bobble head of darlin' D!! It's so cute I just had to share it with all of YOU. mini-me douglas. Doesn't it really look like him?!!

I {heart} marshmellows

Are you feeling soft-hearted this Valentine's Day?

Reach for some marshmallows and transform them into confections of affection. Start by greasing a heart-shaped petit four cutter or aspic cutter with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Cut several marshmallows in half horizontally, and then press the cutter into the center of each one. Float the marshmallows and the cutouts on hot chocolate. They even have pink marshmellows too!!

Where Women Create by Jo Packman

you must I mean MUST check this out ... inspiration, breath of fresh air always .. and just pure delight!! ... AND she's having a GIVEAWAY .... I'm not kidding .......... CHECK IT OUT!!
http://wherewomencreate.typepad.com/blog/2010/02/today.html

what do you think? where do you create???

Sunday's berries

 
 
LOOK at these! just LOOK at them. I couldn't stand it any longer ... so, after church on Sunday I bought them! They are so delicious. darlin' D calls them God's candy, that's how sweet they BE! oh yummy yummy yummy ... come on summertime ... let there be fruits!! I just had to share these pics. oh, and the cost ~~~ drumroll please $8 for 6 pints!! I always wave to this guy on the corner and when my window is rolled down I yell hello (Ola') to him and I smile real BIG too. And if the weather is real icky I take him things ... like a rain poncho, or just kleenex or a hot cup of chocolate ~~ I think, HE thinks I'm loco!! I'd love to share my berries with you! xoxox, m