From Gold Hoops to Chicken Coops

What started out as an innocent day of yarn organizing turned into an explosion of African Flowers .  I  had come to the sad realization that until I used up all of my yarn I would not allow myself to purchase any more yarn, I came to the same conclusion with my kitchen pantry.  So I thought about what I could do with all of these different yarns, each one was purchased to make a different project that I probably started and took apart or just didn't finish, I'm a closet starter non-finisher.  There. Now that is out in the open. So I thought about what to make and thought these colors would all look great together on a blanket.  But I needed something that would be instant gratification because I had the itch to make something.  So I went to my trusty Pinterest board and got to lookin'.  First pin on my board was an African Flower baby blanket. I thought, this could be fun.  I would be trying a new pattern and it could be don...

I read something on Facebook that really upset me today.  So much so that I was ready to pack my family up and move to a cabin in Montana.  You know it was serious because I hate the cold. I started to get myself all riled up when a song popped into my head... I lift up my eyes to the heavens Cause I know where my help comes from I will set my mind upon You, Jesus My Savior, God's only Son There is peace for the seeker Blessed hope from the Lord There is love without measure For all who trust in the Lord  Praise God for that song because it immediately took me out of that doom and gloom cloud I was just about to pitch my tent in.   My heart then began to ache for all those who don't have this Peace.  This free gift from God.  Something so easily attainable.  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."~ John 14:27 Without peace, people ...

                                   I love this time of year.  Not so much for the gift giving part, you can do that any time of the year.  I also could do without the cold, although last nights snowfall was lovely.  I love this time of year for what it represents, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NKJV The Savior of the world would be born on this day.  The bread of life would be born in the town of bread (Bethlehem) and the prophesy would be fulfilled.        This year is the first year our oldest who is now five was really looking forward to Christmas, mostly for the gift part, but still it ...

Do you ever watch "American Pickers" or go on those blogs that show this amazing transformation of a piece of garbage and just wish you could do that or think that you can? Well I do.  And even though I said I was going to take a break from furniture I sort of didn't. I tend to bite off more than I can chew and that was the case this past weekend.  Driving through the neighborhood I found, what I thought was this amazing old hutch and couldn't believe someone was actually throwing it away.  I drove by it and thought "Nah".  The closer I got to home the more I wanted it and convinced myself that this would be the piece that changed it all. So I went back to get it and stuffed that crazy object into the back of the minivan with the help of my sidekick, Mom.  As soon as I drove away I began to suffer from "pickers remorse".  I'm not sure if that's an actual condition but that's definitely what I had.  When I saw this piece I was so e...

I would like to apologize for skipping last week.  I really did want to post my progress on the Trestle table but I was so busy.  I can't really tell you what I was busy doing because frankly I don't recall.  I do know that I was too busy to get gas.  This afternoon, after I had strapped the boys in their seats I went to start my car, as I usually do when I need to go somewhere, and low and behold, it did not start.  I immediately diagnosed my car as needing an alternator.  Did you know I was a mechanic too?  Well, chaos ensued in our household and then my husband insulted me with the idea that I might not have any gas in the soccer van.  Of all the... I always have gas... I pay attention to what goes on around me...I'm not careless... 2 hours later... maybe I don't have gas.  Thank goodness for my mom who saved the day with...yup you guessed it... GAS! Sorry Marty.  Now. What was I talking about?  Oh, right.  The trestle ...

Happy Thursday! The weekend is almost here.  But then in the words of Lady Grantham , "What is a weekend?"  I've been re-watching all the episodes from Season 1 Downton Abbey this week. I must be prepared for Season 3 which is just a couple of months away. Check the trailer out here . But I do feel like weekends don't really exist. We do just as much running around on Saturdays and Sundays as we do during the week and Hubby is always in work mode.  I vow to slow down.  Maybe starting tomorrow.  There is too much to do today. In the mist of all the busy, Hubby and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary.  I feel blessed.  We didn't do anything extravagant.  We watched an episode of Psych together, which has become our favorite show and thing to do these days.  I'm so blessed to have this life.  There are so many other roads I could have taken.  But this is where I want to be.  This is where I have always wanted to be, e...

This past weekend I had the honor and privilege of doing a reading at my dear friend Christy's wedding.  I was asked to read the ever beautiful 1 Corinthians 13, you know the one, "love is patient, love is kind."  Now soak this image in.  It's very rare that my hair is brushed, I have on make-up and I'm in a dress all at the same time. I reread this chapter this morning out of my NKJV bible and love when the Lord reveals something new to me right when I think I've learned it all (which happens to be a lot so I need to get over myself).  v4"Love suffers long and is kind".  I stared at the verse for what felt like an eternity.  But  I stared at v5 even longer, "does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil."   Guilty on all charges. Why do I think that because I love and am loved that I will not suffer or be the root of someone elses suffering? And who am I to be complaining? No one in the history ...

I'm so thankful this morning for power.  Last night we had tornado warnings and wind advisories.  And to answer your question, no, we do not live in Kansas or Tornado Alley.  We live in New York. It's been crazy.  I'm listening to the lovely sounds of backup generators and chain saws while sipping my decaf/caf cup of Bustelo. I thought by now I would have my trestle table and cubby seats complete from Ana White and Shanty2Chic but I have been super overwhelmed and busy with homeschooling, which, by the way, has been going well.  The tough one is my 2 year old who needs to be kept busy ALL the time.  Monday we experienced our first crayon stuck up the nose.  That's always fun. That's BBJ on the left and BBC on the right.  Now you know what I'm working with! So although I haven't finished my project something major happened.  I conquered my fear of the handsaw, ALL BY MYSELF.  As my friend Layla pointed out, I should have pract...

I'm so sorry that I have allowed 9 whole months to go by and nothing from me.  Well, a lot has happened during that time, we moved, my boys got a little taller, I got a little older and (just under) slightly wiser. Careers have changed and our first year of homeschooling has begun. I have not done as many projects as I would have liked to have done this year but stay tuned because I have several in the works thanks to Ana White .  And thanks to Pinterest I'll be busy all year. I did, however, accomplish something cool several months back.  I built my first chicken coop! whoop whoop. It was for a good friend. Nothing fancy. And by nothing fancy I mean it came with directions and didn't involve a carpenter square or a saw.  It came in a box, so there was no thinking involved, just a drill and some crazy kids on a hot summer day. But believe me, this little thing was fancy!  PS...don't put a hot cast iron pan on the shingled roof of this coop, it will melt a...