Thoughtful Thursday

My blogger friend Marcia wrote a post about where we've been and where we are now and where we fit in. And it made me think about how my tastes have changed. My focus has changed, my life has changed.

I don't have any photos, but when my children were small, I painted. I painted a lot, and tee shirts were my specialty. My children would make fun of me, because everything I saw, I would see the colors and say, "That would look good on a tee shirt." I bought Christmas gifts two years in a row painting tees, thank you very much. But that fad quickly died out.

At that time, I was into my country kitch mode of decor. Our house was pretty rustic, down to the splintery interior walls, so I painted country.

I had a band saw, so there were lots and lots of little wooden country things sitting around and hanging on the walls. This dogwood was one of the last band saw creations I painted.

I couldn't bear to give this one up, so it moved with us to our new home 9 years ago. It's still in my bedroom. I like painting dogwoods and have to restrain myself from doing it all the time.

My former style of decorating. SR is still into it, so this is in his "man cave".

I designed this dresser way back then, and my awesome father created it for me. I can't bear to paint it...yet. Although I might one day, unless one of my children takes it. Please take it... It's so big, but holds so little. I don't know what I was thinking. Still in the country mode I guess.

My tastes have changed as has my life. I no longer live in a rustic home in the deep dark woods. I now live in a little house inside city limits in a different town. Smooth walls, level floors, no floral wallpaper, no splintery walls. This is more my style now.

Oh, there are still some country touches to be found around this place. We all take our past everywhere we go, but for the most part, my style is what I found is called, "American Casual" because I like antiques, but I like traditional and contemporary as well. It's a mix of all I think.

My focus now is mainly on the grandson, and quilting. That being said, Jesus is still Lord of my life, or at least I want Him to be. I don't know if I will ever really give over to Him as I'm supposed to, but the desire is there. I am no longer isolated in the deep woods, but have sort of  "come out into the light" of a different world. I have my church, my blogger friends, my children are grown with families of their own, my husband will retire in two years, and life is good. Life is very good.

Online Study

I'm joining in a women's online Bible study hosted by Hillbilly Handiwork's Tonya.

I'm sure she'd love to include you if you'd like to join us.  Her focus verse is 2 Timothy 3:16: 
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

I'm not looking forward to having sore toes....

Thursday Three

Green Pea Pod

NO!!! Don't stop!!

Hard to open!

Photo Op

I thought I'd just post a few more pictures from our trip. Let me know if you get bored. *grin*
My sister took all of these. She is becoming an accomplished photographer!

These kids were having a huge time! They were so fun to watch.

I think Sister must have spent a good fifteen or twenty minutes trying to get a really good shot of this blue heron. He posed some, but mostly turned his back on her.

This was at the Gulf Shores Pier. Funny how you have an idea of how you look, but reality is different. My husband thinks these shots are great. I'm not that convinced. *wink*

The next one is of Gulf Shores at night from the pier. I think it may be my favorite picture of the whole trip. I'm amazed at Sister's talent.

Ok, that's it for now. I hope and pray we are able to return in the not too distant future because it was the best trip I've ever taken. And spending that time with her was priceless. I saw a quote on facebook by Mark Twain that has caught me and I'll leave you with it...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore.Dream. Discover"
-- MARK TWAIN

Photos Uploaded and Ready for Viewing!

Ok folks, here you go.

 I love that sound....I'm so glad my camera has video too.

These pages don't come close to all the photos I took, but you'll at least get an idea of what we did and where we went. Enjoy!

Page One

Page Two

Page Three

Back to Life, Back to Reality

 That's my facebook status right now. Sort of disappointing, but we have to come back to our real lives sooner or later. I almost came a day later...

So, I'm back from Orange Beach and happy and blessed to have gone. I know a lot of people go to the beach every summer and it's not that big a deal, but to Sister and me, it was a true vacation and new experience. I'm working on creating some pages for pictures and will fill you in when I get them all done. It may take all of the ten pages you are allowed on blogger to do it, but I don't want to put too much on one page.

In the meantime, here is a taste...

More soon. Stay tuned....

Hmmmmm.....

Ok, I finished two projects (seen on The Seam Rippers)

 and feel good about that, but.....

I've been watching the weather forecast for Orange Beach... Hmmmm, not the best. So, I've been fretting. I said at the onset of this plan that I didn't care if it rains. I can sit on the balcony and watch the rain fall on the water. And I can. And I will. But I really wanted at least two good sunshiny days first. I'm picky that way. I've been praying God will allow some of the rain to hold off so Sister and I can enjoy our trip and do things that you can't do in the rain. And get some really good photos that you can't get in the rain. But, in nature, there is rain and we will have to make do. So dear friends, pray for my attitude. I'm blessed to have the opportunity to go. I need to feel blessed to be there regardless of the weather. (Unless a hurricane blows up...*wink*)

One Word Wednesday

Angelic

Getting It All Together

Ok, T-minus 4 days and counting for my vaca at the beach. So, I'm getting my stuff together....

Item 1.

Three piece, never used, tags still attached luggage set for $5.00 at a local yard sale. SCORE!

Item 2.

Beach bag purchased at a different yard sale the same day. $2.00.

Item 3.

 Fancy flip flops the clerk at Penney's talked me into. Marked around $30.00 but purchased for around $20.00. Not sure whether these will work or not. After walking in them for a while, the straps are a little uncomfortable. I may have to figure out some way to fix that if I can.

Item 4.

Cheaper set of flip flops just in case. Originally $8.00 but purchased for $4.00 at Payless. (I may be returning and getting another pair. They are extremely comfortable.

Item 5.

A larger purse/bag for traveling. Lots of room in this baby. Originally marked $23.00 but purchased for $7.00 also at Payless. I'm diggin' it.

Item 6.

Navigational assistance for Mi-double si -double pi.  Still looking for a AL map. None to be found in my town, that's for sure.

Things yet to gather....
Drinks and snacks
New pair of shorts
Lounge chair

I'll keep you posted because I just KNOW you are all on the edge of your seats.

My Lone Calla

This Calla Lily is the only one I have that blooms.

It's six years old. I received it when my father passed away, so it has even more meaning to me. The bulbs have multiplied over the years, but this is still the only bloom I get.

If the other bulbs don't bloom this year,  I think I'll try purchasing a few more bulbs and see what happens. This is my favorite flower of all, and I would dearly love to see more blooms.

(The white substance you see in the background is ant poison. We have been over run by ants at our house, and will be calling in the professionals in a week or two.)