"Salty" Sister from Salt Creek Ranch

Louie Giglio Mashup of Stars and Whales Singing God's Praise

2012-01-11T04:59:00.000-06:00

Hello Twenty Twelve

2012-01-09T17:30:00.002-06:00

I just like the sound of that, twenty-twelve, it rolls off the tongue real nice.

I, like most of us, have resolutions for this year. My number one resolution is to improve my photography skills, to learn to use photoshop and to print pictures. I am well on my way to printing pics, because along with the tripod my husband gave me for Christmas, he also gave me a printer.

He has been bugging me for days now to print something. Yesterday I came up here (craft room) and downloaded the software, hooked up the printer and printed a couple photos. I noticed that the photos are printing with horizontal lines through them and I also noticed that while the picture looks great on the computer screen that didn't automatically transfer to the printed picture.

Sooooo, I'm off to the first and most important, and totally out of my comfort zone, resolution - improving my skills, which means school. I have taken the first step to getting started on that. The local community college is offering classes and I'm diving in. Stay tuned for that.

My second resolution, is organization and really this is a lifelong process. To date I have purged and reorganized the kitchen pantry, Christmas decorations, and closet. My side of the closet though, as the husband doesn't like it when I do that to him.

When we first got together, we lived in a double wide trailer house and the closet, though large for that type of housing, was too small for all of his things and mine too. To remedy that problem I purged his closet. It was easy to do since most of his clothes had dust on the tops where the hanger was.

I spent the time doing my homework, paying attention to what he actually wore, and then proceeded to make a large pile in the floor of all the things he never touched.

He was not a happy camper, to say the least, when he came home for lunch that day. He rushed to the clothes pile and started pulling out the things he wanted. Like, for instance, the perfectly preserved brown, double knit suite complete with the white stitching from the 1970's, pointy lapel and all.

We went through the clothes and picked some things out that he wanted to keep and let go of the rest and I happily unpacked my clothes and we hung together in one closet.

Ahh, blissful co-habitation.

One thing that I do know is, that to stay organized, you must purge. Get rid of all the things you do not use, do not wear, and for the kids, do not play with!

When I was a young mother, keeping a clean house was really hard for me. And really it was a time in my life when I had a lot of things to let go of, both materially and spiritually.

During this time I would wonder, "when will I get my life back"? It seemed so out of control. I would cook but not clean, I would wash the laundry but not fold and put up.

Needless to say, the state of my house reflected the state of my heart and mind.

The funny thing is, I grew up in a home that was immaculate. Beautiful even. My mother is beautiful, she is the best cook EVER, and our home was always clean. Her kitchen never held a day's worth of dirty dishes and her laundry never made the kind of piles mine did.

You know the piles, dirty clothes in the floor in all our bedrooms and in the laundry room, clean clothes in piles on the couch and left in the dryer.

Our mornings were chaotic. My poor little children were whisked off to school after a morning that was crazy stressful, it's a wonder that they ever made it through. Poor teachers.

Anyway, back to the subject matter that I really want to talk about, organization.

I spent most of my time looking at Better Homes and Gardens, dreaming about a home that would look something like those and then I would get up and look at my house and just feel so depressed.

But then, God ... don't you just love a story that has that phrase in it? I had been searching for that thing that made it all okay. That piece that made all the wrongs moves right, that thing that made sense out of the senseless.

That "thing", the missing piece, was Jesus. Truly. Jesus made all the difference. After I gave my life to Christ, He, in turn, began changing my heart and my mind. He showed me that God was a God of order, not of chaos.

And thats when I decided that I was going to have a house that looked like the rooms I saw in the magazines. I was going to, at least, make it the best that it could be.

I noticed that with even my best efforts to clean, the house wouldn't stay that way. I would clean the kids rooms but when they went in there to play, it turn right back into the disaster that it was always in. I noticed that they had to empty their toy chest to get to the toys they wanted to play with. And I couldn't keep the rest of the house clean either. There was just too much stuff.

That is when purging and I became best friends.

My plan was simple. I bought the biggest box of black trash bags I could find, backed my car up to the back door, and left the trunk open. As I filled the trash bags, I would go to the back door and fling it into the waiting car. When the trunk was full, the kids and I drove to town and found an empty dumpster, where I promptly filled it up. I did this over and over and over that day and by the end of the day, I had a new house and I was a new woman.

That's my history with organization. Purging is key to keeping things neat and tidy. It's freeing really.

So this bring me to today's story, a continuing struggle to keep a certain room clean and efficient, my craft room. I have posted several times on the before and afters of this room and folks I am back in the before position again and these pictures are taken after I cleaned all the trash up. This is clean! Hello.

These pictures give me a headache. Clearly I have a systems problem. This is one of those "it's going to get much worse before it gets any better" organization adventures. Yea, lets call it an adventure. Truly, perseverance will be key here.

There is only one way to work a job like this and that is to break it down into small steps. I realize that in order to break this into small steps that I should break the room up into work zones like you do your kitchen. So, the plan is to make a list of all the activities that go on in here. The ones that actually happen, not the ones I wished happened, or the ones I hope to do some day. That is step one, get a plan.

Step two, get started.

No step two, get boxes, keep, donate, and trash. Yea, that's it. I need some boxes.

Maybe this should be a black trash bag kind of purging. Just do it, no looking, no sorting, blah, blah, blah. And then like presto it's done and I have all kinds of empty storage to work with!

Eh?

Maybe an inspiration picture or two would be nice. I could do that first. Yes?

Hmmm.

It's gonna be okay, I can do this.

I know I can

I know I can.

Shot of the Day

2012-01-08T18:00:00.000-06:00

My honey bought me a tripod for Christmas.

I love it.

Hahahaha, honey can't hide from the camera anymore.

Okay so this last photo shows how the truth of how we live. See the stairs in the background? Yea, that's Christmas decorations that haven't quite made it upstairs yet.

Hope you are having a beautiful winter's day. Stay warm!

See ya.

2011 Christmas Home Tour

2011-12-16T09:57:00.001-06:00

The Nester, Kelly's Korner and Hooked on Houses are hosting Christmas home tours, because I love decorating and I love Christmas decorating, I'm joining in the fun.

note to self - buy pretty fireplace screen!!!!

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

and he will be called

Wonderful counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas everyone.

New from the Craft Room

2011-11-28T10:41:00.000-06:00

New from the Craft Room

2011-11-13T12:42:00.001-06:00

For

He will

command His angels

concerning you to Guard you

in all your Ways.

Psalm 91:11

Floral Design, Part I

2011-11-01T15:45:00.002-05:00

I decided to re-work the flowers that were in this vase. It took a lot of courage to do this since I am a known floral "plunker". But the flowers that were in here just didn't seem right to me so one shopping trip to Hob-Lob later and decided to go for it. Note: totally forgot to take before photos.

Here is the fabric in on our duvet cover that inspired the color direction.

I admire people who can make beautiful arrangements and I have wanted to try my hand at this for a long time.

I thought I should take some kind of class to teach me how, you know, like the floral design 101 or something, but I met a guy who was making some beautiful Christmas wreaths and he said, "you don't need a class, just do it!"

So, I did.

It turned out pretty good, I think. I feel that I have now graduated from "floral plunker" to "floral poker."

I know there are mistakes here. One is, I messed up on the big flowers. Shouldn't there be an odd number thing going on? I have four big flowers and I either needed three or five. Also, I felt like there was a hole on the right side so I filled that with some more green roses and the little dog wood looking flowers and the arrangement isn't square to the vase, in real life you can see that.

I learned to buy more than I think I will need and to not use so much hot glue, that way I can re-arrange things later.

I'm thinking a class could be helpful.

Now where to put it?

Here by the bed? Pretty but not practical.

or maybe here on this little turquoise chest? umm, no, that's not right either.

Here, in this empty corner, yea that works.

This little exercise got me to thinking, what else could I do in here?

maybe add this little bird cage floral, I made this too ... but I totally don't call this arranging! Not sure why, now that I look at this picture it seems as though that took a little fore-thought.

and now for my honey's side. What I wish it looked like ...

maybe add a little black and creme ... ahh yea so nice.

Hello, this is real world, that fluffy floral stuff would never last ... after all he is king of the remote controls.

But hey, I do have this cute little chair and table, now to shop the house.

perfect little table, it has all the right ingredients, florals, candle, old books, small art piece (mine) and a cool lamp.

and a zebra throw. Now it's perfect.

Happy decorating.

Abundant Blessing

2011-10-29T17:21:00.001-05:00

Hello.

I love fall. I love the colors, the cooler air, the promise of Christmas, and the clothes. I love the clothes of fall. lol. sooo true.

I made this wreath for the front door las year. The base is an old wicker purse and the florals are from Wal-Mart.

See, fall colors just make you look good.

This picture not so good, could have cleaned up the bird poop. Honestly I didn't see it until I was back on the computer, so it stays. This is real life here on the ranch!

This little pumpkin had to be shared.

This is something new I am trying this year, a Thanksgiving tree. Later I will add some Christmas ornaments and poinsettias.

Really hard to take pictures of a tree. So what do you think, Thanksgiving tree - yes or no? I admit it feels a little weird to have a tree up so soon. I could easily pull it into a storage room and bring it back out closer to the holidays but for sure it was easier to put up now than after Thanksgiving, I am usually pooped then.

Up next I try my hand at floral arrangement. hahahahahahahaha

See ya.

What's Up?? !!!!

2011-10-27T13:10:00.001-05:00

Hey all! I've been MIA lately, as far as this blog is concerned, but never fear - I am active on Pinterest!

To anyone who is also on Pinterest you then know what I am saying when I say ADDICTED. Yep, I love it there. If you are interested in seeing what all the buzz is about go to pinterest.com and check it out.

One cool thing about it, though, is the blogs are well represented. I found a new one that I am in love with and want to feature. A Heart in Provence. The photography is beautiful, the vignettes are beautiful, the clothing is not my style but loving all the vintage linens and natural elements. It is a feast for the eyes.

So, I've been busy decorating for fall around here. First I want to show you God's fall decor with some photos from the mountains here in the southwest.

This is NOT fall decorating, it is a warning!!!!! I bought a candle poured in a glass jar, left it burning on my beautiful table and forgot it.

Yes, forgot all about it!!! I could smell something, I looked and looked around the house. I had candles burning in other rooms, so thought it must be from the wick that I had just blown out.

The next morning I found this.

Yes, this is could have been bad, very, very, very bad.

And now, for God's glorious beauty.

We took a drive to Monjour lookout in Southeastern New Mexico.

Loved the stone steps, built in the 1940's.

Gorgeous.

My honey.

Love the scarf.

Honey, strike a pose.

Yea, this look.

What he takes pictures of . . .

hahaha

I didn't really fall, it was staged just for kicks.

The sky just seems bluer up here, isn't it beautiful.

Wild horses.

Thank you, up next - fall decorating around the house.

See ya.

Birthday Party Pictures

2011-09-01T17:45:00.000-05:00

I just want to start by saying, we opted for not spending money on cakes and went with homemade cupcakes. They were cuter in person, hey, the kids loved them!

The infamous cake-pops.

She loved her dress.

Here's a good shot of all three two year olds. Hadley in pink, Talia in purple and Anah in turquoise. (pictured earlier)

These two ran to the linen closet and set up camp.

I Am Free to Turn North and Remain

2011-08-30T14:27:00.002-05:00

First, a funny story.

I made some cake pops for the birthday party I threw for our little girls. My step-son asked me how I made them, so I told him all about it, first cake mix, baked, cooled and then crumbled. Then add the frosting, not all, I added two thirds and that may have been too much, then roll your balls, . . .

yes I said it that way . . .

and you may want to roll your balls smaller than I did mine because they were too heavy to stay on the stick,

and that's when I lost him.

Yes I told my son to roll his balls smaller so that they would stay on the stick.

Classic.

My second week on my ~~diet~~ - er - lifestyle change has been a success. As of Saturday, I have lost 9 lbs and 2 1/2 inches on my hips! HELLO! Or as Danya would say Holler!

So worth all the broccoli and asparagus this girl can eat. And pickles! The nurse told me to eat all the pickles I want when I am having cravings. They are serious about this pickle thing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The book "Made To Crave" started singing my song and I hung on every word. If you are a dieter go get it.

Don't wait.

Do it.

Now!

These last two weeks haven't been all easy but they have been all worth it. I feel better than I have for a very long time.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. "Our chains are no longer holding us, we are holding them!" Thanks for that line Beth Moore.

So true, we have the power to be successful. Anything less is disbelief!

Excerpts from the book that is waking me up and walking me through the "Stinking, Rotten, Horrible, No Good Days", chapter 11.

(Note all type in blue is quoted from the Lysa TurKeurst's book, "Made to Crave".)

"Either we can be victimized and become victims, or we can be victimized and rise above it." Ruth Graham.

POWERFUL!!!!

She continues to say, "Often it is easier to play the victim than take off our masks and ask for help. We get comfortable with our victim status. It becomes our identity and is hard to give up. The Israelites often played the victim card, and I love what God finally tells them, 'You have circled this mountain long enough. NOW TURN NORTH!' (emphasis mine) (Deuteronomy 2:23 [NASB]) .

Turn north! It's time to move on! Self-pity, fear, pride, and negativity paralyze us. Taking off our masks takes courage, but if we don't do it, we will remain in our victim status and end up stunted".

Or in this case, overweight and unhealthy, further compounding our feelings of being victimized by our circumstances. So, what can we do when we don't have the energy or the fortitude or the desire to eat healthy?

Or in my case, keep my mouth shut, to control my tongue and truly, honestly depend on God in all my circumstances?

I have a personal situation that I don't like. I don't like it and I don't want it! But I can't do anything about it.

It's complicated.

I am second.

I am the second wife. And there is nothing I can do about that. It just is. I love Jesus, his compassion fills my heart and I don't want anyone to suffer, so I reached out to "my ex-wife", as I like to call her. I didn't want her to be lonely when her kids were gathered at my house and she was alone at hers. So, I invited her to dinner and she accepted. Fast forward a few years and now she comes to stay at our home up to five days at a time!

I know, that could be weird.

Sometimes it is,
Sometimes it is difficult,
Sometimes there is a stab of pain from a thing said, a comment made, and
Sometimes it is just plain . . . not fun.

And sometimes it's okay, enjoyable even.

It's my house and my kitchen, we live 8 miles from the nearest town and even if we wanted to go in and eat, there is no place worth going in and eating at! So, I am stuck in the kitchen cooking and cleaning while the rest of the family is visiting and laughing and watching movies.

Did I say I don't like and I don't want it?

So how does this play into my diet?

It causes me to focus on things I cannot change, rather than on God.
It plays the track of defeat in my mind, it makes me uncomfortable, and sets me up for my resolve to be weaken.

And it plays right into the devil's hand.

Because my mind is playing a track of defeat and my tongue is restless inside my mouth all I want to do is lash out.

I know that I cannot allow that to rule my heart and my mind. I know that it would back up all the hard work that has gone into making two families one. Or at least like each other. Let me tell you, this blended family thing can be just as hard as it is rewarding. It takes work and a lot of it and it takes perseverance and compromise.

I know that Jesus' way is to turn the other cheek, to love others as you love yourself and to see things as God sees them. My ex-wife may be taking advantage of my good nature, but maybe there is a bigger purpose at work here. Maybe, God is loving on her through me, maybe He is showing the rest of the family what His heart looks like, how it treats others and that His sacrifice was so great that we can sacrifice what little is asked of us, too.

So, what's a Jesus loving girl to do?

Turn to God, accept His teachings and do what he says to do.

My philosophy on this is, "if you have decided to ask for help, then be prepared to take that help". In others words, do what they tell you. Whether you have decided to ask a parent, a spouse, a friend or especially God, do it! Do it now, don't wait. Do what you know is right, what will cause the least harm, and keep the peace. Amen.

Controlling my tongue and my thoughts and my cravings for things that will never love me back, that only seek to destroy and do not result in victory and will never fulfill the longing that is inside my heart is often times hard. And lets face hard is just plain hard to do. I know simple, but true.

(Neither will finally putting on that skinny pair of jeans or losing 9 pounds or 20 or anything else. Only Jesus can fill what is lacking inside our hearts).

Even though I lost weight and I am off to a great start, I still dealt with the things that go wrong in life. I still turned on the track of self pity and I still need God to fill me.

We often hear that God will not give you more than you can handle. The thing is God never said that. He said that he would not let you be tempted without a way out (1 Cor. 10:13) In fact it may just be God that gives us more than we can handle, so that we will depend on Him rather than ourselves. I read that in another great book that is out there, "Weird" by Craig Groeschel.

Control, whether is it your tongue or your cravings, takes work. Sometimes you just have to walk away from the places, things or people who test you and make it hard to resist. Go to God and take off your mask and ask for help. Unmasking ourselves is the first step to receiving the help that we need.

I had a stinkin', rotten, no good day! I wallered in self pity and really wanted to say all the things that were running through my mind. But, my husband was so helpful and supportive. He made great strides to make sure that I knew where his focus was, with me, and it brought joy to someone else's heart.

So, I took the advice that was so wisely given, I turned north. I sought the Lord for my comfort and advice. Romans 8:28 came to mind. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Hope all is well in your households.

See ya.

Week 1!

2011-08-19T09:34:00.002-05:00

Week one is down and out. Ya hoooo.! ( hear that with a bit of a Texas accent).

I made through with some bumps and challenges but I made it with no cheating. This morning I was rewarded with a five pound drop. That's pretty darn good for the first week out. I know that probably won't sustain itself and the truth is while the number is a gage on how I'm doing, it is not the primary focus on what I'm doing.

The doctor warned me about focusing on "the number". If I were to weigh everyday and focus on what the scale said I would feel defeated and discouraged when I reach the plateau and that is when most people give up or give in.

I chose this.

I decided to start this diet now knowing that my daughter and her family would be coming to visit from Virginia and that I would be throwing a birthday party for the three two year olds we have in our family.

I chose to start now while the getting was good, than to wait two weeks for all the company to leave. I did that because I was ready to start, number one, and also because I know me and I would think, "this is my last two weeks I better eat this because I won't get again for a while or never". I knew that I would see food in a new light, one that I currently wasn't struggling with. So this choice has put me in the kitchen cooking things I cannot eat (but that I really love) and in the grocery store walking down isles of food that I cannot have.

My freezer was totally empty because while we were gone for a week I had left something in the way of the door closing properly and when I got back the temp. was 83 degrees. Needless to say, a stinky mess. When the family came in I really needed to go shopping.

The day I went, I forgot to pack one of my meal replacement shakes. (Note to self don't ever do that again.) So while I was at the grocery store, I started feeling sooo hungry, my stomach was growling and everything was reaching out to me from those shelves, calling my name. "Hey there, you like me, pick me, pick me." (hear this in a high ghostly kind of voice)

I really really really had to talk to myself in there. I told myself that this was temporary and I would get home soon and get the food I was suppose to have. I quoted scripture, my favorite mantra, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 As I prayed that, just enough strengthen flowed through my body.

I also began to remember the scripture I included on my last blog post, the great and powerful Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. I made it home at 5:00 and just decided to pick up on my day where it was and not try to complete the whole diet plan.

That has been my biggest challenge so far.

I want to share with you some of the things out of the book "Made to Crave" written by Lysa Terkeurst, that have really spoken to me. I can't put it all here because that would make for a really long post and I would loose you all. Assuming I haven't already.

By the way I really want to thank you for your encouragement and for jumping on the band wagon with me. I love you guys. Thanks again. It encourages me to know that God is using my battle to love on you.

Note: all type in blue is from the book.

"Our flesh buys right into Satan's lie that it's not fair for things to be withheld from us."

and

"The seduction was smooth and seemingly innocent."

Wow, that was a powerful one, page 101 of the chapter titled "It's not fair". She is talking about being on vacation and being at a special dinner with her husband and having a dessert set down in front of her. While she watches her husband eat it, assuring him that it is okay, "I don't mind, go ahead, it won't bother me" her heart is saying something else completely, "it's not fair"

"Saying it's not fair has caused many a girl to toss aside what she knows is right for the temporary thrill of whatever it is that does seem fair. But the next day the sun will rise and as each band of light becomes brighter and brighter, the realization of the choice she made the night before becomes clearer and clearer."

Poor me.
This isn't fair.
I've lived with this struggle for so long.
This is a special time.
I could just give in this once.
Everyone else is doing it. (that is a big one for me, what a downfall that has been in my life)

"It's at this exact point when the dieter on vacation indulges.
The virgin sleeps with her prom date.
The girl on a debt reduction plan pulls her credit card back out.
The alcoholic skips AA and heads off to the bar for her friend's fortieth birthday instead.

They may know they are made for more, but somehow Satan dissipated this truth with a rationalization: 'Special times deserve special exceptions and anything else just 'isn't fair.'"

The scripture she went to that day was powerful too, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

She goes on to say, "Weakness is hard, but it doesn't have to mean defeat. It is my opportunity to experience God's power firsthand. Compromise built upon compromise equals failure. Instead, resisting temptation allowed promise upon promise to be built up in my heart, and that creates empowerment.

Now that's some pretty darn good stuff right there! It reminds me what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." And that is even better stuff!

That pretty much sums it up for me. Today is the big birthday party. This family is so blessed. We have 8 grandchildren and three step grands, and three of our babies were born the same year. They are all turning two this year, yesterday was baby H's birthday, so we decided that since everyone was going to be here, we would throw a party and celebrate everyone's birthday. The three little girl's get a cup cake with candles, crowns and gifts, everyone else gets party favors and one gift.

I just can't stand to see little eyes looking at me and wanting to know why their Nanoo didn't get them something. I understand that they need to experience, "it's not all about me" out in the real world, but this isn't the real world, this is Nanoo and Pappaw's house. Not real here. No, this is the land where we scoop you up and run off with you, where we spend endless hours pushing you in the swing, and where if you want cake before dinner that's okay too.

Nope, nothing about the real world here.

:)) love you guys.

See ya.

Today Is The First Day of The Rest of My Life

2011-08-14T21:45:00.005-05:00

Well Friday was, actually. Today is the third day of the rest of my life.

I'm on a diet. Today is day three and I'm a little bit hungry to be real honest. BUT!!!

And that is a big but, not as in butt which is also pretty big these days, so hence the diet.

I have had a hard time taking this mid-life weight off, so I sought help. I went to a doctor with a weight loss program and a diet plan. I am drinking three shakes a day and eating one meal and I can eat all the pickles I want! Hey now that's a diet for me!!

And I am getting up in the morning and walking 30 minutes on the treadmill.

It just came down to "want to." I had to find my want to. Food is not really an emotional thing for me, if anything it might be a boredom thing but my problem has not been how much I eat but what I'm eating.

God has been talking to me for a pretty long while now. I am so thankful that he keeps after me and doesn't do to me what I would do, which is ask once maybe twice and then say "away with you, off with her head!"

Not really, I wouldn't say off with her head! Ha.

Would I, Mom?

Forget that I said that.

God has spoken to me through friends and family on multiple occasions. I had to finally quit kidding myself that I could eat anything and everything that I wanted to and get my priorities straight. Be honest with myself.

Here's the deal, I'm weighing in at 168.5 and I want to weigh 135. I wearing size 12 and I want to wear 6's. They measured me to but sorry I don't remember what those were. That's the facts. I realize that is not as much as some have to lose and more than some but the things is, it is a change and change takes perseverance and determination and want to.

So the diet this doctor gave me has almost nothing on that I like. Normally, that would be a stumbling block but not this time! I'm ready to get back to the girl I use to be. The one whose philosophy was "eat to live not live to eat" and whose body craved the good stuff, like vegetables and salads and water.

My honey stood in the kitchen tonight and asked me, "so am I on a diet too?"

Yes, yes you are. Are you okay with that?

The way I see it is you have to want it more than you want the chips or the chocolate or the whatevers, so when my brain finally puts it in that perspective there is no temptation to cheat, at all! I simply don't want it.

I have a deep desire to please God and to grow closer to Him through this time of transition by praying when cravings come along and trusting His word that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Which has been a mantra that I repeat whenever I feel the need for strength.

Like I said this is just day 3 and I have 87 more to go. My goal is to lose 35 lbs and at 10 lbs per month, I should be reaching my goal by Thanksgiving.

In the grand scheme of things not so much time to spend setting yourself free from the bondage that holds you down, makes you feel guilty, robs you of your energy and just plan makes you feel not so pretty anymore.

Let's face it I like clothes and I want to walk in my closet in the mornings and grab whatever pair of jeans I want to wear and put them on! Pick out a cute shirt and an equally cute pair of shoes and hit the floor running. No longer focused on the clothes that don't fit and looking for that ONE pair of jeans, hoping they have been washed or not washed. Know what I mean?

I want to honor God by respecting my body which is His temple. And then there are the kids. My job is to show them how to dig down deep and pull out the strength and determination to face any obstacle, claim it and make it your own.

I'm not saying it is easy, but I am also not saying that it has been that hard. Today was day three and this was the day that I was suppose to have a big headache from sugar withdrawals. I had a small one this morning but it just went away. They tell me that day five is the day when I will feel bad from carbohydrate withdrawals, but you know what, I have things to do that day. So I don't have time for that either. We'll see, I'll let you know how it goes.

Until then, I am not letting go. I will not give in. I want this bad enough to pay the price it takes to get it. And if that price is to deny myself some things then I'm good with that.

Oh yea and hunger pains they are sign that what your doing is working. It's not like we are really going to starve to death. So when I feel hungry I call that victory.

Maybe do a little victory dance. And then get me a pickle or something raw, like celery.

Maybe you ladies here can be one more accountability group for me. If you are on the same journey that I am we can go together or if you are facing this in your future let me be your cheering partner.

I picked up a book called "Made To Crave". She is digging deep into scripture and showing all the places that Satan used food to draw us away from God. Our cravings are carvings for God and we replace them with the things of this world be it food, or whatever vice that has a hold on you. We are meant for so much more in this life. There is kingdom work to be done and I am not a very good servant when I don't feel good.

So no more.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons (and daughters).

Hebrews 12:1-7

Time for Sharing

2011-08-09T10:45:00.000-05:00

WE spent some quality time with the grands this summer. This is our oldest granddaughter.

She is growing up toooooo fast. I made this for her bedroom to top her window.

I was trying to take a picture when I noticed what was in my view finder and quickly took the shot before I lost it.

Funny girl.

More to come, up next the boys.

See ya.

From the Craft Room

2011-07-13T21:19:00.004-05:00

Hi Mom and Aunt Inez :)) I love you guys.

partying at:

FJB Show off You Stuff Party #83

Somewhat Simple

Delightful Order

Happening Now

2011-07-12T13:49:00.001-05:00

Okay so to show you just how hot it has been around here, this is a picture of a chandelier hanging on my back porch. The "faux" candle is actually real wax and, well, the pictures speak for themselves. Yea, it's been hot. Oh and this chandelier gets no direct sun.

Now that is some serious heat!

See ya ;)

Where I Have Been

2011-07-09T05:51:00.003-05:00

It's hot here at home. Some of you, in other parts of the country, may be suffering from too much rain, but here in the Southwest we are suffering from NO RAIN!!!! Like we should have like 12 inches by this time of the year and we have had 1 1/2, that's bad. AND, it's HOT here!!! Seriously HOT! Sorry, I don't mean to yell at you , it's just that it's blazing hot, sweltering hot, miserably hot, SERIOUSLY HOT!!!!

I will try to post some pictures of the awfulness that is happening around here. I want to say that I will post the pictures this week, but I kind of know that I am sorely out of shape when it comes to posting so, not promising when, but I do promise that I will.

One day the husband said, let's go to the mountains and look for a get away house !!!!! *! @%* Squill. (is that how you spell squill? it is isn't it? it just looks funny to me) Then I calmly said, "okay." But the funny thing is I was packed in a flash.

Much to my surprise, we found one. The following two shots are the reasons why. This is the view out of the living room windows and the back porch.

And then reason why #2, the porch. Isn't she lovely. I've put some tables and chairs out here last time we were there, sorry, I forgot to take pictures. Next time. I also forgot to take pics of the master bedroom and bath, so, next time for that too. Look at her, she wraps all the way around.

I spent two weeks up here the end of June and through July 4th weekend. I must confess I was strangely mad when I had to come home. Curious, I totally didn't expect that. But the husband knows me well and this evening he said that we should go back up next week. Sigh. . . breathe Jerri Ann, breathe.

There is a number of things I would like to do to the house but after adding the florals, pictures and accessories I think I can live with it for a little while longer.

I found this wonderful woman and her sister that have been in the interior design business for 30 years and they just came in one day and when they left, it looked like this. Oh my pearls, it would have taken my forever to put all this together.

Below is my Uttermost lamp, I love it! It's kind of quirky and I have to something that is just a little off and kind of funky.

I would love to change the counter tops and backsplash here and extend the island counter top to include a bar area where I can add some stools but . . . oh the dreams I can dream. lol. I would also like to add knobs on the cabinets. I think the cabinets look pretty without them, but I am breaking fingernails when I reach for the drawers and doors. So, some nice pewter knobs, maybe.

See the blue canister with the cross top? My friend gifted me that. Perfect match, what a sweetheart she is. Thanks Debbie.

The two guest bedrooms are in their beginning stage but off to a great start. A familar voice echos in my brain, "remember it's just a vacation house." hahahahahahaha. Like I'm can stop here! Ah honey your so cute. He's right though, he's right. It's just that I want it to look amazing, fabulous, beautiful and decorated. Cause I love to decorate and it's a blank canvas. Rambling.

Check this baby out. Beautiful in all her rugged and rustic good looking self.

One thing to tell you about this house is the gal who designed and built this home had a thing for the same tile, mirrors, and light fixtures. They're everywhere. They are on the floor, on the counter tops, in the shower, around the the doors, on the backspash and in every room. Please don't hate for saying that, but it's true. I'm just saying, could we not have chose a few other things? And please don't get me started on the paint color. Take my word for it, it's the same color as the tile and it is in the pink-y, peach-y, rose-y color family and it's everywhere too!!! Kind of nipple-y. I know, I know, spoil rotten brat. I get it, but seriously another color somewhere, please? And the animals~ this is the bear bathroom. And then there is the fish bathroom and mine is the moose room. ~Shrug~ umm.

On to brighter topics, check out this headboard and footboard. Lovely.

I picked up this great day bed with a trundle for the little ones.

I'm kind of crazy about this corner.

Okay, so I've introduced you to most of the house, and she's a beauty. Don't get me wrong, I love it here and I'm loving it more and more but, in my defense, the paint color photographs better than in person. And in all honesty it is beginning to grow on me.

So here are the two changes I am going to make as soon as my contractor, bil, cuts loose and gets up here. I really want to take this partition wall down and open the dining room back up to the rest of the room.

And this, . . . . . . this is ugly.

This photograph shows the truer pink in the paint color and not that pink is a bad paint color, it's not!!!! It's just that the tile is pink and the paint is pink and it just keeps going. Please tell me you understand. Please.

Ever feel like you have talked yourself into a corner? And if you'll notice the carpets pink too!!!! Seriously I have got to get control of myself here.

This feeling I have over the pink paint, carpet and tile in every single room in the house, reminds me of the craze I got into when we had flies sooo bad at our ranch. I mean, I went crazy. You probably don't understand that either. I feel I have revealed too much of myself on this post. BUT they were sooooo bad. I mean they were all over the outside of my house. I couldn't even open the door. They were all over it and . . . and . . . I went a little crazy, that's all and when I killed them with the flyswatter, I didn't just swat the little buggers I slapped 'um flat. Like a crazy person. The kids even thought I had gone too far in my hatred for the flies.

Why did I get off on that subject? Have I been gone too long from you guys and now I have pent up writer's rage?

Ugly. This is just . . . don't, If ever you are looking at your wall and wondering to yourself, "what am I going to do on that wall?" Don't do this. K. Just don't.

My game plan is to knock all this out and re-sheetrock and build in a smaller niche and put a nice chunky chest and set the TV on that and then I will have a more wall to hang some art. That's plan A, plan B is to keep the idea of the cubby holes but do them all in sheetrock and put lights in and add some large pottery and add some florals from my new friends in town. And I would like to take the carpet up and continue the tile. It cuts the room off and there is just no reason plus it give me the opportunity to add rugs. I love rugs. So stay tuned for that.

And thanks for hanging in with me until I finally got to the end of this. By the way, hot flashes are a great way to get up early and blog. So there you have it, what I have been doing and where I have been. More to come. Later.

See ya. :))

Hello

2011-07-05T23:22:00.000-05:00

I miss you guys. Seriously I do.

It's time for me to come out of hiding and start this bad baby up again.

I wonder, is anyone still here?

Do you know Him?

2011-04-24T14:32:00.001-05:00

He Has Risen!

2011-04-24T07:37:00.001-05:00

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb. rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he had risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Matthew 28:5 - 7

Casting Crowns - "Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)" - Live

2011-04-23T07:36:00.000-05:00

Good Friday

2011-04-22T16:20:00.002-05:00

I was not raised in a home where we studied the bible or even discussed much about what things like Easter or good Friday meant. To me it was all about the hunt! My folks believe in Christ and we went to church, we just didn't really bring it home, like some do, and even to this day I first think of Easter eggs but through study I am brought to tears for what God did through Christ on the cross for me.

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for out transgressions, he was crushed for out iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Not long ago I was given the opportunity to write a talk about the body of Christ, the church, and in that talk I focused on Christ body during the crucifixion.

I was going to quote something out of the movie Passion of the Christ about the flogging but then decided I better not take a movie's word for it, I better look to the bible and see what it says. IT says and I quote, "and they had him flogged" in both Matthew and Mark. I thought "well what EXACTLY is flogging"? I mean I can understand a beating but then my mind immediately numbs because really I have never seen violence. I can not watch movies or TV shows that have too much violence in it and even with what little I have seen most of that is through my fingers, so when I say I don't know much about it, I mean I don't know much! I wanted to really understand it, though, to be able to truly visualize how Christ suffered and died for me.

So I googled "what was flogging like in Jesus' day"? And an interview between Lee Strobel author of the book "Case for Christ" and Dr. Alexander Metherell came up. Needless to say after reading that I can easily understand, visualize and empathise with the passion of Christ and what He went through to pay the penalty for our sins. Here is a detailed account of what our Savior went through on Good Friday from the interview between these two men;

"Roman floggings were known to be terribly brutal. They usually consisted of thirty-nine lashes but frequently were a lot more than that, depending on the mood of the soldier applying the blows.

The soldier would use a whip of braided leather thongs with metal balls woven into them. When the whip would strike the flesh, these balls would cause deep bruises or contusions, which would break open with further blows. And the whip had pieces of sharp bone as well, which would cut the flesh severely. The back would be so shredded that part of the spine was sometimes exposed by the deep, deep cuts.

The whipping would have gone all the way from the shoulders, down the back, the buttocks, and the back of the legs.

One physician who has studied Roman beatings said, 'as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh.' A third-century historian described a flogging by saying, the sufferer's veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.

Because of the terrible effects of this beating, there is not question that Jesus was already in serious to critical condition even before the nails were driven through his hands and feet. And as distasteful as this description is there is more to come.

The Romans used spikes that were five to seven inches long and tapered to a sharp point. They were driven through the wrist, this was a solid position that would lock the hand; if the nails had been driven through the palms, his weight would have caused the skin to tear, and he could have fallen off the cross. So the nails went through the wrists.

It is important to understand that the nail would go through the place where the median nerve runs. This is the largest nerve going out of the hand, and it would be crushed by the nail that was being pounded in. The pain would feel like when you hit your elbow and hit your funny bone, that is another verve called the ulna nerve and it is extremely painful when you accidentally hit it. Well picture taking a pair of pliers and squeezing and crushing that nerve. That effect would be similar to what Jesus experience. The pain was absolutely unbearable, In fact it was literally beyond words to describe; they had to invent a new word: excruciating, meaning 'out of the cross.'"

Think of that they needed to create a new word, because there was nothing in the language of that day to use to describe the intense anguish caused during the crucifixion! And even with all this, there is still more, but I will stop here.

Isaiah 52:14-15,

Just as there were many who were appalled at him--his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through Him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love on another. AS I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples. if you love one another."

John 14: 27
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 15:12 - 17
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned form my Father I have made know to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my mane. This is my command: Love each other.

John 16:22 -
Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

John 16:27
  ,the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.

John 17:20 - 26 Jesus prays for future believers
  "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
  "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
  "Righteous Father,though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

After all that, the letters in black and the letters in red, it all boils down to just on word -

love

Amazing, isn't it? God truly is love.

Be kind to one another, make it plan to see what Christ did on the cross for us so that everyone who sees you
sees Christ.

I love you.

Peace.

Sunday You Tube Love

2011-03-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

New from the Craft Room

2011-03-10T21:53:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to share what I have been working on lately.

layered paint on 8 X 10 canvas,

5 X 7 canvas board, assorted papers,

textured fabric heart,

dyed stone cross,

swarovski crystals.

It Was Just Alright

2011-03-10T09:55:00.000-06:00

Was it me or was it just alright, last night? Sorry American Idol, I guess the drama of last week left big expectations and this week it was just, eh. Danya and I both agree it didn't really zing us. There were some bombs and there were some shining moments. Pia, very polished. Casey Abrams, did you see his baby picture, his smile is exactly the same. He's a cutie and very talented. James Durbin did a great job.

I don't know, maybe it was just me. My honey had just gotten back home from a long trip and we couldn't stop talking, so I wasn't too into Idol last night.

Eh, it was just alright.

See ya. :)

Some You Tube Love

2011-03-06T16:18:00.000-06:00

This is the reason I love American Idol so much. This was Stephano Langone's last shot to get on the show. They chose the top 5 boys and the top 5 girls out of 24. That was some drama, people! The judges chose three boys and three girls to sing for three seats left open.

He was so good, so good. He had me standing in my living room, raising my hand and praising the LORD., so real, so truthful, so beautiful.

Happy Lord's day.

See ya.

"You Have Ash In Your Hair"

2011-03-04T20:53:00.001-06:00

I really must say that I love this land we call blogland. I haven't thank this body of people enough who come by and read what I have to say and who go out of their way to leave a comment. It's love to those of us who put so much time and effort into what we write here. Comment love.

And there is another thing about "blogland" that I love, and that is the sharing and reaching out to others. Last year when my honey and I were walking through chemo, there were lots of you reaching out to us. Taking your time to leave a comment of care and concern and to bend your knee before God and asked for the Great Physicians healing hand on us. I can't thank you enough and I will never know who you all were until heaven and that is a miracle on it's own.

It is in that spirit of sharing that Tracey at Tracey Trinkets and Treasures shared a new blog and I want to pass that along. Last weekend, some of you may not know, but this part of Texas had winds that were gusting as high as 70 mph. We are dry here, very dry and somehow a fire got started. Tracey says that 70 homes were destroyed. You can check out her post here. She has all the scoop since her love is a firefighter.

One of the victims of that wildfire has started a blog where she is chronicling the events and after effects of that day. Her writing is as honest as her emotions are raw. I can only imagine. Go give Shandi some blogland love at My Way Through The Ashes

American Idol, The Girls

2011-03-03T10:18:00.000-06:00

This season of American Idol is certainly going to be an exciting one. The girls were amazing.  There are more than five to watch!!!!  I can't wait for tonight.

DRUMROLL PLEASE...............

Ta Tynisha Wilson- LOVED the dress, but we felt the music was bigger than her voice. It was ok, but at thre end of the night it didnt stand out.

Naima Adepapo- She looked amazing and worked the stage really well. She is very talented and it was a good performance. But we agree with Randy, kinda loungy. Little Sarah, Danya's daughter said "awesome", and Little Anah Grace said "Nacho Cheese!!!!"

Kendra Chantelle- LOVED HER. Top 5??????? We all felt connected to her performance, and agree that she has just scratched the surface. The bluesy sound and soulfulness in her voice is believable and authentic. Awesome.

Rachel Zevita- Shes a bbbaaadddddd girl........very unexpected, a little odd. If Simon was there IDK what would have happened. Loved the dress, but we totally agree with what Jenifer said. Its sad because you can tell she really wants it. Theatre could be a fit for her.

Karen Rodriguez- She looked and sounded beautiful and its great to hear the mixture of the Spanish and English together.  GO ON GIRL, fabulous job.

Lauren Turner- Big blusey vioce. We liked the performance. We want to see more from her and hope she makes it through. We agree that she did exactly what she needed to do; pour herself out on stage and hold nothing back.

Ashton Jones- She looked the part, loved the confidence and stage presence. WORK IT SISTA!!! Didnt love the song, but she made it her own. We agree diva in the making.

Julie Zorrilla- Its a shame. Behind the music, out of key, wrong song, her voice wasnt there. Im sorry, but she is going home. Lets put it this way: the only nice thing Steven could think to say was "It sounded good in the chorous."

Halet Reinhart-  We thought she did a great job with the song, and we would like to see more from her. (**Sorry mom, but I just have to say- she is talented, theres no denying it. Its just that she's always over the top with the seduction technique. We had the rewind it because Carlos thought something popped out of the top of her dress. I would love to see her rein that in a couple clicks!!! :))))

Thia Megia- Doesent get any better. It was the most beautiful thing we have ever heard. Loved what Randy said and we are captivated by her.  She is truly inspiring.

Lauren Alaina- She doesent look sixteen!! She rocked it, natural talent. Loved what the judges had to say and cant wait to watch her grow.

Pia Toscano- We loved it. We were a little worried that she was last because of all the talent and great performances before her. That was all in vain becaues she blew the doors DOWN!!!!!!! She is it!!!! She already looks like a star. Randy said it best: "Not just the top performance of the night, but in the top of the standing O performances of all ten seasons!"

Guest writer- Danya Bueno

American Idol Season 10

2011-03-02T13:45:00.003-06:00

Hello fellow bloggers, I have been away for a while, just kind of hit a spell where I didn't have much to say. I have some new projects that I am excited to begin showing you soon, more on that later,

But first it's American Idol time!

As always I am joined by my daughter Danya and sometimes my honey and whoever else calls in with their thoughts and opinions ( mom ). At times I will record the conversation as it goes, I am "j", Danya will be "d". No one else does it this way, but I find our conversations can sometimes be where the fun is. So, let me know, does it work for you?

We are all in agreement, Love the judges!!!!! Love them. Baby Anah says she loves them too! I didn't know that I would love Steven Tyler, but I do. He is funny, fresh and so full of heart. And J Lo is truly beautiful, both inside and out. Even my honey likes Steven Tyler and that's saying something.

j - Even Randy is better. What is it about that?
d - Yea, cause he's not so over shadowed by Simon.
j - Yea, and he's honest, because last night the first time he disagreed with the other two, I was thinking the exact same thing. At least, I think that's what honesty is, because he was agreeing with me, lol.

Okay so let's get started

Oh, Oh yea, what about these new rules? Where did that come from? I'm not sure I understand the judges choices, do they get one pick each and that means that we will start with 8 guys and 8 girls? And Danya points out that usually they go to the small stage first. I guess we are seeing who can handle the pressure turned up as high as they can get it.

Clint Jun Gamboa - "Superstitious"

J - He's one of those guys that I don't expect that voice to come out of his body. He's good, just not one of my favorites. I don't know maybe he'll grow on me.

D - Clint? Oh, how could I forget Clint, mom. He's the one that kicked Jayce out. I don't know, his talent is good, and even though he kicked Jayce out, he's in it to win. So, hello, it's a competion. Even though I don't like him.

Jovany Barreto - "I'll Be"

J - hmm, nice voice, did a good job. I don't know, hope he doesn't have to go back to the shipyard, but honestly, I'm just okay with him. egh.

D - hahahah! He is no Mark Anthony and he never will be. That's all I have to say.

Steven and J Lo loved it but here is where Randy and I agreed, it was just okay. hmm.

Jordan "I want to be a legend" Dorsey - "OMG"

J - He just blew it. Based on the performance of the night, I don't think there is a chance he will stay. And I kind of hope he goes home because I don't think I like his personality. It seems like he will bring a hard edge to the show and who needs that? I don't.

D - ewwww! He grosses me out. I just don't think he is a very nice person, I think he is cocky and he is going home, buddy. Except the forgiving judges, they might give him a second chance.

Tim Halprin - "Come On Over"

J - I really liked him during hollywood week and I hope he didn't just blow it. He is who the judges should keep. But, it didn't work last night. Poor baby.

Danya - he didn't do very good, but I do like him.

Brett Loewenstern - "Come On Baby Light My Fire"

J - WHAT??????

Danya - oh my gosh, he looked awkward and really nervous and you know I'm a little worried about him, he's really soft hearted, he's a really soft hearted person. I like him, I thought he did good compared to some of the other people who bombed. And Carlos is just holding on because he decided early on that he liked him. Mom what did you think?

J - for me he is another one of those guys that I don't expect that voice to come out of. He looks so fragile, but then that male voice comes out and I don't know, it just doesn't seem to match up for me. But his hair did look great and he used it. So funny. But I do think he is a sweet kid and he could go on.

James Durbin - "You've Got Another Thing Comin"

J - In the top 5! I love this kid, I am rooting for this kid. I am praying he holds it together. I liked that he wasn't too over the top, sometimes he seems to act out a little much, but then again that is to be expected. I just think he could be an inspiration for so many to not give up and to overcome.

D - Love him. Loved it. And I don't usually like the rockers. I think he is way better than Adam Lambert was. I guess I like him because he has and is an overcomer. He's got tourette's syndrome and asperger's and that's pretty crazy. I think it's cool that even though he has the little twitches, he still goes up and gives it his all.

Robby Rosen- "In The Arms Of An Angel"

J - Should have been so good, but it just didn't work. With these crazy rules they have this year, they aren't going to get the opportunity to make many mistakes. This was the one performance that I wondered what Simon would have said?

D - I like Robbie, I do. I think that Robbie is really good and that he should go through. Bad choice of a song, no one can sing Sarah McLaughlin but Sarah McLaughlin ( sorry, not sure how to spell her name? ) I just want to say on a side note that Colton still should have gone through and on a side-side note I'm still not over losing the guy with the mullet last year. Just sayin.

Scotty McCreery - "Letters From Home"

J - this song makes me cry every time, I can just see Jeremy in it. WOW! He did a good job. He's body language is off to me. I mean the leaning thing. It doesn't look natural, it looks manufactured somehow. I just wish he would relax and be more of who he really is. And I think he may believe that the lean is who he is, but I just think, that somewhere along the way he picked up this country nice guy/tough guy thing and he leans in too much.

D - He was good. I liked it. I agree with the leaning thing, it's kind of cheesy. I like him and I get it that they like his deep voice but there are a couple of guys out there right now with deep voices and I am just asking how many deep voices can you have at one time? They sound so unique that you can only have one. I like John Wayne and I though he was a nicer person. He seemed more authinic and mature. So add John Wayne to my list of misses. I do think this competion will be good for Scotty, because he will have to sing other types of songs.

Stephano Langone - "Just The Way You Are"

J - To be honest I'm having a hard time right now remembering who he was. Oh yea, he's the guy with that wasn't suppose to walk again. Yea, his story is amazing, he seems like a great person, very genuine, I hope he makes it through. I wasn't real into his song may not have been the best choice, I don't know, just wasn't memorable for me. I felt like I wasn't seeing what the judges were, it must have been a lot better in person.

D - I think that his personal story is amazing and I really like him because of that. I mean those are some pretty wicked scars. I thought he did pretty good last night but I wasn't really in love with his performance.

Paul McDonald - "Maggie"

J - I love this song!!! Love that he brought back Rod Stewart. I had to close my eyes because I couldn't keep my eyes on him moving all around. Steven said the "McDonald two step", haha. His voice is great and I think he is in the top five.

Danya - love him, love it, love the skinny jeans, love the pointy boots, love the smile. I just really like him - a lot, he's kind of sexy - in a skinny sort of way. I didn't love that song but I didn't know that song. I want to hear him sing more.

Jacob Lusk - "A House Is Not A Home"

J - WOW - WOW - WOW!!!! Top five.

D - Oh my gosh, I don't even know what to say. You know how Randy said that, "God Bless The Child", was the best performance ever on American Idol? It was. He was really good last night, I thought he looked really good, sounded amazing, he's the total package. And why hasn't he been already discovered by somebody?

J - I get that, I keep wondering why we have to go through the whole competition just to see him sing again. It seems like he should be out there already.

Casy Abrams - " ? "

J - Top five. Love this guy. His talent is deep, you just never know where he is going to go with it and I think he is cute. Cute personality and fearless. I love that.

D - Love Casey. He needs to get his teeth whitened. I just had to say it. He's cute, he's a cute guy, super-dupper talented, he needs to get his teeth whitened. It would make it better.

J - oh Danya, I love you child. He is going to keep us on our toes.

Whose going home?

J - Based on the performances last night, Jordan, Tim and Robbie are in danger of going home. I'm on the fence with Brett and Jovane. I hope, I really, really, hope that Tim and Robbie stay, I think they have deep talent and deserve another chance. I would be okay with not seeing Jovane and Jordan again, but I would be sad if I don't get to see Tim and Robbie grow and mature on this stage.

D - Jovane, pack your bags; - Jordan, just a side note to the tall guy, when Usher sings Usher live, it's still not good. Because they are playing the back ground on tape and Usher is just singing a little of it. Rap never sounds good live never, never, never! Except Eminiem, (sp?) he's is the only one I have ever heard sing rap live, that was any good. Jordan has got to go. Jovane, he's gotta go back to the ship yards.

Favorites ?

J - without a doubt Jacob Lusk and Casey Abrams, also, James Durbin and Paul McDonald. I think these are the guys to beat.

D - Jacob, Casey, Durbin, and the tall skinny guy. See there's four people I like. I think I would buy Paul McDonald's music, I like Casey because he's a little blues, a little jazz and I like that, and I like Jacob but I don't really know that I will buy his music. Wouldn't it be great, though, if American Idol would just let him cut loose with a good ole gospel song?

The boys are good this year, better than the girls, I think. I just really like Jacob Lusk, the kids told me if I ever watch that performance of "God Bless The child" again they are leaving! Ha! I may go home and play again, I wish I could turn the tv up louder. I looked it up on itunes and there are a lot of big time singers that have done that song, but his is the best. It's all about charisma, baby.

So what about the girls, well we'll see what they do tonight. We'll blog the girls tomorrow.

See ya.

Friday Feature

2011-02-04T16:51:00.002-06:00

Can you say, LOVE? I thought I would leave you with a little inspiration for your next project. How about this lovely. Isn't she gorgeous?

I have a mirror just waiting for something like this. This mirror is from "Lort's Furniture" and this is a new technic they call "Pure". I'll say. Beautiful, saturated, undiluted, high gloss color with no glaze and no rub through. Ummmm luscious.

I've been a long time fan of their furniture. Here is another shot of this show stopper.

And the chest they feature to go with.

I think I have some things just lined up to receive this Pure treatment. What do you think, do you like it?

And now for the room

hold your applause until the end, you won't be disappointed. I'm thinking I need one of everything. . . . . . . . . just dreaming my day away . . . . . . . .

Awwwe . . . love.

All pictures featured in this post are from the Lort's Blog, go check them out. Lots of beautiful.

Happenings Around the Ranch

2011-02-03T09:15:00.005-06:00

This happened last weekend, thankfully no one was injured except our hay. lol One of our neighbors, driving down the highway, saw this and called us. We had no idea it was happening. The men were able to get it out before this cold winter blast came through. The wind would have changed directions toward the houses and been a lot higher, which could have caught the whole country side on fire, that would not be good.

At first I didn't take any pictures, guess I've been in a slump lately, but then my daughter told me she couldn't believe I wasn't out there taking pics so, I got off my butt and got out there!

Here are just a few, I don't want to bore you with 15 million of these things, cause you know that's how many I took. Well maybe just shy of 15 million :)

We lost all our hay, a horse trailer and a few tires.

If you've ever seen hay burn you know it is impossible to put out with water. That stuff burns hot and keeps burning for days. So the men got on tractors and started pulling it apart to give it more air so that it would burn faster and more completely. The volunteer fire department stood by with water trucks just in case.

I think that clicking on the picture and bringing it up to full size on your monitor is the coolest way to view them.

The girls and their sweet babies were here for the weekend so this is how I left the men when I decided I should get back to the house and the company of my children and grandchildren.

The girls and I watched the kids play, gave the babies their baths and fix some dinner when I realized how late it had gotten and something said, "go check on the men".

And this is how I found him. All covered in soot and ash. Really? My man, he turned out to be okay, no apparent smoke damage just dirty from head to toe.

Hope everything at your homes are going great, stay safe and warm.

See ya.

America the Beautiful?

2011-01-09T12:15:00.006-06:00

My heart is so heavy this morning, as is all of America's. I want to offer up my thoughts on this tragic, senseless shooting in Arizona, but my deepest emotions sound too common . . . too ordinary to be meaningful.

I do hope that, as the lives of those lost yesterday are reported about, we will be inspired to live our lives to the fullest, to be the best that we can be to and for those around us.

So, whenever I feel this way I go to the One who knows exactly what to say, whose thoughts are above ours and who holds us in the palm of His hand. I lift my prayers to Him and hide in the shadow of His wings. I am praying for the families and the victims of this tragedy and for America. As I held my bible in hand and opened it up this is where it opened at.

Psalm 50

The God of gods -- it's God -- speaks out, shouts, "Earth!"

welcomes the sun in the east,

farewells the disappearing sun in the west.

From the dazzle of Zion,

God blazes into view.

Our God makes his entrance,

he's not shy in his coming

Starbursts of fireworks precede him.

He summons heaven and earth as a jury,

he's taking his people to court:

"Round up my saints who swore

on the Bible their loyalty to me."

The whole cosmos attests to the fairness of this court,

that here God is judge.

"Are you listening, dear people? I'm getting ready to speak;

Israel, I'm about ready to bring you to trial.

This is God, your God,

speaking to you.

I don't find fault with your acts of worships,

the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.

But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull,

or more and more goats from your herds?

Every creature in the forest is mine,

the wild animals on all the mountains.

I know every mountain bird by name;

the scampering field mice are my friends.

If I get hungry, do you think I'd tell you?

All creation and it's bounty are mine.

Do you think I feast on venison?

or drinks draughts of goats' blood?

Spread for me a banquet of praise,

serve High God a feast of kept promises,

And call for help when you're in trouble --

I'll help you, and you'll honor me."

Next, God calls up the wicked:

"What are you up to, quoting my laws,

talking like we are good friends?

You never answer the door when I call;

you treat my words like garbage.

If you find a thief, you make him your buddy;

adulterers are your friends of choice.

Your mouth drools filth;

lying is a serious art form with you.

You stab your own brother in the back,

rip off your little sister.

I kept a quiet patience while you did these things;

you thought I went along with your game.

I'm calling you on the carpet, now,

laying your wickedness out in plain sight.

"Time's up for playing fast and loose with me.

I'm ready to pass sentence,

and there's no help in sight!

It's the praising life that honors me.

As soon as you set your foot on the Way,

I'll show you my salvation."

As I began typing this I doubted and thought "maybe this isn't what I should be using", so I pick the bible back up and turned again and the next scripture that fell open convinced me that yes, this is something God wants to say because they are so similar.

Isaiah 35

Wilderness and desert will sing joyously,

the badlands will celebrate and flower --

Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,

a symphony of song and color.

Mountain glories of Lebanon -- a gift.

Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon -- gifts.

GOD's resplendent glory, fully on display.

GOD awesome, GOD majestic.

Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.

Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart! GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!"

Blind eyes will be opened,

deaf ears unstopped,

Lame men and women will leap like deer,

the voiceless break in to song.

Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,

streams flow in the desert.

Hot sands will become a cool oasis,

thirsty ground a splashing fountain.

Even lowly jackals will have water to drink,

and barren grasslands flourish richly.

There will be a highway

called the Holy Road.

No one rude or rebellious

is permitted on this road.

It's for GOD's people exclusively --

impossible to get lost on this road.

Not even fools can get lost on it.

No lions on this road,

no dangerous wild animals --

Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening.

Only the redeemed will walk on it.

The people GOD has ransomed

will come back on this road.

They'll sing as the make their way home to Zion,

unfading halos of joy encircling their heads,

Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness

as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.

America, God bless you and keep you. Fellow Americans hold on tight to the promises of God, know Him and His Word. Just as the scripture says in Psalm 50, when your in trouble tell Him and He'll help you and that will bring Him glory. And one day, we will find each other on the Holy Road with unfading halos of joy encircling our heads, gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.

Christmas Greetings

2010-12-24T18:05:00.000-06:00

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given...

and his name shall be called

Wonderful,

counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Wishing you joy everlasting,

wishing you peace evermore,

Wishing you love ever constant...

all things His coming was for.

Merry Christmas,

Jerri Ann

aka

Salty Sister

The Gift

2010-12-24T09:31:00.002-06:00

This Christmas is awareness of the gift of Jesus is settling in deep. I can't seem to stop crying shameful, thankful, joyful, tears.

This video says what I can not.

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given . . .

and his name shall be called

Wonderful,

counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Wishing you joy everlasting,

wishing you peace evermore,

wishing you love ever constant . . .

all things His coming was for.

Thank you all for your prayers and support this past year. I wish I knew you in person, I would hug your neck, look deep into your eyes and tell you how much you are loved. An then I would give you some fudge.

Christmas Open House

2010-12-14T06:00:00.007-06:00

Hi everybody, welcome to my Christmas open house. I've been working really hard to put everything up just right. Each year I do something different with the things I already have, so I never know where things are going or how they're going to turn out.

Check out this post for my table vignette and this post for my fireplace mantle Christmas decorations.

This wreath was new last year, this year I added the wooden white Christmas tree, the rusted bells and I used one of my favorite ribbons to make the bow.

AS you enter my home I put a small sampling of my Santa collection on display and added some of my favorite stuffed animals, sorry no picture of them. I wanted to convey a warm and friendly welcome.

Just across from the front door is the dinning room. I kept this room simple, and featured my woodland Santa and some beautiful candles.

You know, I have fought with this room all year. It is a beautiful room, I know that, but there is something missing. It reading a little cold to me here. Maybe I should put the dining room chairs back around the table, or maybe I should go ahead and paint the wall some dark, rich color. Hmmm???

I love this table but I can not tell you how many times I walk by this thing and think, "I wonder what this would look like painted"? I'm getting dangerous.

A little something on the stair landing. The turquoise Christmas balls were a new find. I was visiting my daughter this weekend and while we were at her Wal-Mart I spied three boxes left on the shelf. I grabbed them up PDQ. Maybe they will begin to set the tone for next year.

In the living room, I wanted to feature the color blue, so I used as much as I could in here. This year I decided to use what I had and not buy anything new however, I would love to shop the after Christmas sale and pick up a smaller tree and some new colors for my Christmas decor, and maybe add more blue for next year.

The decoration in the kitchen kept evolving and you know how I said I wasn't going to buy anything new this year, well the chandleir features some new decorations and I added the black and white check table runner.

This is the half bathroom just off the kitchen. Sorry, the lighting in here seems very yellow. I used a door swag that fits on the outer corner on the chair. It looks kind of unique on there.

Here is the only crafting I have gotten around to. I made two of these and one of them went to the white elephant Christmas party we went to the other night, tons of fun. We had to take a present each, the other present was a re-gift. I bought this woodland Santa face ornament thing, ugly I tell you. And the funny thing was the man who picked it said the same thing. I said, "Yep, that sure is" and no one traded him for it. lol.

So, there it is for the most part. I tried not to do too much but I'm sure that when it comes time to take it all down I will be thinking I put up a lot.

Oh yea, this is the second year that I have not put up a Christmas tree. Not because I am anti Christmas tree, but because mine is huge and I don't want to lug that big thing around. It takes two days to put it together and get the decorations on. Or maybe I'm just slow, and I am slow I've proven that many times, but anyway, this year I came really close to buying a new smaller tree and some new decorations in turquoise but decided I didn't want to spend the money so maybe a little after Christmas shopping is in order, when everything is half off. I do miss my Christmas tree, though, my daughter, KP, is not happy with me. Also, Sarah and Caleb will be here next week and they might have something to say about it too. We'll see if Nanoo goes shopping for a tree and lets the kiddos put it up. Hmm, that would be fun.

Linking with The Nester

and Kelly's Korner Show Us Your Life - Christmas Tour of Homes, and Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for her Holly Bloggy Christmas Home Tour,

joining Julia on her Hooked on Holiday House Tours.

and the ever so talented Kara at Elements Interiors

Seriously if you haven't made to Kara's place you really need to go, she is beyond talented and her Christmas decorations are amazing. And she's fffuuunnnnyyyyy with some of that sweet Texas spirit, so ya'll go see her.

Merry Christmas everyone. :))

See ya.

Kitchen Mantle Makeover - Reveal

2010-12-06T02:48:00.000-06:00

Ingredients and tools, I once used a Styrofoam plate to paint with so I brought that back out, it does work but on small scale projects the best and smooth surfaces.

I used the joint compound to adhere the burlap fabric and then put two to three layers on top and around that. I found that I fought the burlap through the whole process so I probably would not use that again.

Then I put on a base coat of paint, I used what I had, so the base coat was a light yellow color I had mixed from SW Ivoire. Next, a layer of metallic glaze I picked up from the craft store, the color was Medieval gold but it looked coppery to me. Coppery, that's a word, right?

Then I added brown, probably would have been best to have gone to the paint store and had some colors mixed but alas, no . . . . . I used a heavy texture acrylic paint and again hard to work with. Sorry no picture of the brown layer but you can see it here.

Then I decided the burlap I left showing was not working, so I decided to cover that up. I brought the joint compound back out and smoothed some on, sanded, painted and basically started over.

This little guy will never be the same and the nails either, I've washed and washed and still not good.

I just kept adding paints and smoothing them out. The real tool of the day was a damp rag, I used it a lot.

In the end I think it may be too dark, so we'll see, I need to live with it for a while. It seems really strange looking up there and seeing it so dark. The picture above shows it to be darker than it really is.

There is no washing of dishes when I am engrossed in a project or cooking of food, poor honey.

Salty Sister Decorates - Fa la la what?

2010-12-04T13:52:00.003-06:00

After working in the living room and decorating the fireplace mantle, I thought I would come in the kitchen and work on this mantle.

So I laid an apple swag up there and stepped back, I was looking to see of it was going to work and then . . . BAM! it hit me. So I ran upstairs and grabbed these, my all time favorite painting products.

Yep, this is the way my brain works, right in the middle of Christmas decorating, I decided to do one of my 2010 todo's.

Like I discussed in my table vignette, I start with a vague idea of what I want and then, I just work with it. I have learned to trust the idea, even if it is just a smiggin of an idea. Not really tutorial, teach me kind of stuff. More of an adventure in decorating kind of stuff.

Yesterday as I worked on Christmas decorating in the kitchen, I kept my eye on this lovely little project and decided the texture was a little to rough.

Things are about to get ugly, stay tuned . . .

I better get busy, the honey's gonna want dinner. :))

See ya.

Salty Sister Decorates - Christmas Table Vignette

2010-12-02T12:10:00.002-06:00

Welcome and thank you for stopping by. I love Christmas and Christmas decorations. I am thankful to the ladies that are hosting the link parties this year. At the bottom of this post are the links for more beautiful decorations.

One thing to know about this Salty Sister is I'm slow when it comes to adding Christmas decorations. If it wasn't for these linky parties and my desire to participate, I probably wouldn't have much done yet. They are motivation to help me get it done!

I love decorated homes and I can get into decorating but I'm kind of slow. Took me all day yesterday to do this table. I start off with only a vague idea of what I am going to do and then it's like putting puzzle pieces together.

I kept adding things but it felt like I was fighting with it, my decorating philosophy is when you have to force something to work, it's not working. So once I realized that, it was time to start taking things away.

One thing I love about decorating for Christmas is that I feel like I have permission to use glitter and girls I do love glitter! I also love velvet and rich opulent fabrics and shiny, sparkly things.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in christ Jesus.

I pray you have peace that surpasses all understanding this Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Linking with Rhoda at Southern Hospitality
Julia at Hooked on Houses

Salty Sister Decorates - Christmas Mantle 2010

2010-11-30T20:17:00.003-06:00

Hi everyone. I hope your Thanksgiving was great. We had a full house, I fed 10 adults and 7 children. It was fun and all had a good time.

But, you know there has to be a but, and fortunately with that much family around there wasn't a butt, but there was sickness. Our two 1 year olds came down with upper respiratory infections, viruses they call um, and four of us adults came down with the stomach flu. Oh Yea, that was some fun.

All is well now and I'm off to tackle some Christmas decorating.

Linking with Layla at The Lettered Cottage
Julia at Hooked on Houses

So here it is I hope you like it and thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for looking hope you are having a good time looking at all the fabulous mantles. Please let me know you came by with some comment love, I would love to come visit you as well.

See ya.

What a Cutie

2010-11-16T15:26:00.002-06:00

I have a love affair with all things burro/donkey. Love this little guy.

From his big brown eyes to the tuff between his ears.

Honestly, what I really want to say is, "now there's an ass". I know, this is a family rated blog but this technically is an a_ _. If ever you want to think of someone as an a _ _, think of this guy, he really is one! Not your honey, he's not, he's just a man.

Talk to the Hand

2010-11-16T14:47:00.000-06:00

The wise woman builds her house,

but

the foolish one tears her down.

Proverbs 14:1

Linking with Met Monday

The Wise Woman

2010-11-11T10:30:00.002-06:00

There is this scripture that has been talking to me for a couple years now. It speaks into my heart about my past, it reminds me of the things that fell down around me. In my heart I know it was me, I am the only common denominator in all those circumstances that swirl through my memory.

But, God's Word never mocks, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, so these memories are not mocking or condemning me, but rather reminding me of the place He found me, keeping fresh the memories.

Maybe they are here to help someone who struggles or to find their way to a canvas that will whisper the Word of God to ears that hear. God's Word will not return void . . . but always accomplishes what He intends, where He intends. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. Isaiah 55:11 The Message. You never know who the Holy Spirit is convicting and re-constructing. Amen.

It completely heals and fully restores, even to tiniest of details.

I had a best friend when I was young, during our fourth, fifth and sixth grades, she lived one block away. Her Dad was the youth minister at the Methodist church, we attended a Baptist church, but when he noticed, or maybe it was her, that we weren't going to church on Sundays, they arranged it so that when they got to the corner they would honk their horn and I would come running out to ride to church with them. They moved and I never saw her again.

About ten years ago, I began to long for that friendship, the one that was clothed in innocence, all caught up in the youthful exchange of summers and so much laughter. I began to ask God, in prayer, if I could find her again. Just a few weeks ago He did provide and we we are now trying to catch up on forty years of living. The point is, what has been tore down can be re-built, what is lost can be brought back around.

God's Word, through faith in Christ Jesus, restores and redeems my soul and my losses. God created us for the love of us. What was meant for evil, God used for good, for those who love Him, who earnestly seek Him. He Loves us. ( present-active participle verb) I'm believing God. :)

The wise woman builds her house,

but

the foolish one tears hers down.

Proverbs 14:1

My life experience with God shows

that if you have been the foolish woman

and tore your house down, with your very own hands,

with God you can be the wise woman who builds hers.

Amen and amen.

Salty Sister Decorates Last Years Christmas Mantle

2010-11-10T14:56:00.005-06:00

Hey, all you blogland decorators yes I'm calling you. Not yelling at you but speaking loudly to you. It is almost that time again, yes it is, to decorate for Christmas and then show the rest of the world. That's right, it puts lots of pressure on us here, but it helps me get it done.

So, to help us get our Christmas decorating party hats on and link with this years Christmas blog parties which, by the way, start on November 30th - hello! Where did the time go? Ya'll, I'm still stuck in August!

The talented and oh so clever Beth at "Stories from A to Z", is hosting a linky party featuring last years Christmas mantle.

This is an easy one for me since the work has already been done. I've always been quick to link up with a no brainer, I"m just sayin.

Okay so, this is last years, simple, clean, I don't feel like messin' with it and I got no new ideas, Christmas mantle.

I spy a little soot that needs to be cleaned up on the front, oh well it was cold last year and we burned a lot of fires.

And this little dandy was my Christmas tree from last year and the reason I am including it in my Christmas mantle from last year's post is, it was my favorite story for the whole year.

I seriously didn't want to decorate, Rickey has just be diagnosed and we were beginning our walk through cancer, so I pulled this tree out and put a few large ornaments beside it and called it good.

Danya and her family came up the weekend before Christmas to celebrate with the Grands. I won't bore you with pictures of the kids from that weekend but know this, I'm tempted. Anyway, sweet Sarah Kate eye spies Nanoo Christmas tree and I overheard her tell Tyler, "Oh no!! Look at Nanoo's tree! Let's fix it." So they pick the little tree up, sit it on the floor and hung the over sized ornaments on the small branches. I watched as they stood back, cocked their heads to one side and said, "oh well, shrugged their shoulders and giggled as they ran off to finish building their fantastic blankets tents.

I loved it so much that this is exactly where it set for the rest of the month. In my memory, though, I thought the branches were all bent over Charlie Brown style, but still a great story.

Happy decorating ya'll, let's do this thing.

From the Craft Room

2010-11-08T13:39:00.000-06:00

Recent inspirations.

Three "Believing God" hands.

God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
i am who God says i am.
i can do all things through Christ.
God's Word is alive and active in me.

My largest size canvas to date.

The first ones, playing with texture.

Linking up with Susan at BNOP for Met Monday.

To My Lovelies

2010-11-08T11:59:00.001-06:00

image from gingerella

I found this on the blog "Room to Inspire"and then I borrowed it.

It is exactly and perfectly what I want to say to my children. I have found that raising grown children is hard, harder than raising young children, they're easy.

I am owning and understanding that they will always be my child and I will always be their mother BUT they don't need to know what I know. What they need is space to learn what they need to know. And the assurance that when they want to ask I am there for them.

What I need to know, is that even though they ask doesn't mean that they will do what my advice is. And it also doesn't mean that I should ever ask how things are going. *@%#! Can anybody testify? Just sayin.

Seriously, this is the hardest part of parenting, for me anyway. Anybody else at this stage of life know what I'm talking about.

And just when I got really good at it.

Believing God

2010-11-06T11:50:00.009-05:00

Wednesday's dr. appointment went okay for my honey. We knew that he would have to take a "shot" every six months as a maintenance for the cancer treatment, but what we didn't know is that it was starting this week. He must go every week this month to get the "shot", which is really not a shot but a mini chemo treatment, along with the possible side effects of chemo.

So far, Praise God, he has experienced only mild side effects, such as being tired. We do not know the results from the blood test yet, we will find that out next week, but we are feeling confident and encouraged.

We do have a lot going on this month, but it may a blessing that we are too busy to be tired. Amen.

I know everyone involved loves him and we will all do what needs to be done to make things go as smoothly as possible.

I have started the Believing God bible study. I know, I'm behind, but I bought it a couple of years ago and did the first page and then didn't keep it up. Then I bought another one and then another one but never did any better with them. It dawned on me the other day that maybe God was not honoring my attempts because He wanted me to finish the first one, sooooooo. . .

I've started this one again, and I must say it is going much better. I am sticking with it and doing my homework. Yea, God!!!!

So with that said, I am believing God and He is the inspiration for these:

God is who He says He is.
God can do what He says He can do.
i am who God says i am.
i can do all things through Christ.
God's Word is alive and active in me.

Thank you all for your caring comments. They are uplifting and they make me smile and some just make me laugh right out loud. Your the best.

Love you girls.
See ya.

Checking In

2010-11-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

Girls, how many things can one person have going at one time???? Plenty! I know everyone is busy, and this is just crazy, but did you know that November is here, already????

I have been elbow deep in paint lately, canvases to show soon, went on my first all girls weekend, fun and interesting all at the same time, went to the Texas Rangers vs. SF world series baseball game this weekend, we are having a bull sale at the ranch this coming weekend, women's bathroom reno in process, guest coming to stay with us, menus flying all over the place, sometime in here I've got to go grocery shopping, walk to Emmaus next weekend, family coming in the week after that for 10 days (!), and then THANKSGIVING!!!!!! and then Christmas decorating and then . . . Whew, life is good!

Rickey goes to the doctor Wednesday for his first cancer check up, we are confident that God has us in the palm of His mighty right hand and whatever the outcome is, there is rest in Him. Who am I kidding here, I am praying that his cancer is still not active and we will remain in this place of peace and ease.

Jeremy is being moved to Germany in July. What???? Did I say that was okay? What was I thinking? I know what I was thinking, vacation!

Other than that I have been on the couch eating chocolate. What have you been doing lately? As soon as I get my photobucket account opened back up I'll post some new pictures. Evidently I post too many pics and now I must pay.

See ya, I've missed you guys lately. And welcome and thank you to the new followers, I promise I post more than once a month.

The Heart of the Home

2010-10-15T01:23:00.000-05:00

I noticed that Shelia at Note Songs is having a link party on kitchens, I love my kitchen and everybody else's too, so I decided with the cooler months coming on I would feature my kitchen and maybe some of my cooking. Those cooking post are little tricky.

I love cooking during the fall and winter seasons, I guess we all do. Lots of comfort food, stews, soups, and casseroles. My poor honey wonders what happened when the summer rolls around.

Funny I used to lose weight in the summer months but not any more, nope, I manage to maintain my weight just fine even when I'm not hungry. Thank you and darn-it.

I poured my heart and soul into this kitchen. I knew just where every dish was going to go on paper. I am a magazine junky and I read that the kitchen planners divide a kitchen up into zones in order to organize it.

I think this kitchen has a very nice flow to it.

I used hand scraped hickory for the floors. The cabinets are made out of maple, painted and glazed, and the rest of the wood in the house is knotty alder. I don't know what the paint color is because this woman talked me into using a color she mixed. It's a light khaki color but the lesson here is don't ever do that, it is impossible to match.

I wonder what Maria over at Color Me Happy would say about these color tones?
Maybe I don't want to know.

Yes I left my Christmas decorations up all year. They're pretty.

I chose a sink from Kohler with the half divider, I love it, so many times I struggled with a pan too big in my old sink. I love the brown color too, I was tired of looking at stainless sinks and I was worried that I would scratch up a pretty white one.

View at just after sunset.

View in the daytime.

My handy and oh so clever brush holder.

I've talked about it before, I NEED to do something with the top of this vent hood!!!! I can't decided what I want to do, I like so many things.

The two column like things pictured here are my pantries.

No too much of a look inside, they need a lot of cleaning and organizing. The one on the left stores all the food and the one on the right houses an assortment of dishes, coolers, platters, paper towels, etc.

Dishes my Mom made for me.

I like it in the chair in the kitchen.

So that's it. Pretty huh. Except for the vent hood, I must do something with that soon. Maybe before Thanksgiving.

See ya. :)

2010-10-08T10:50:00.000-05:00

Create in me a pure heart, O God

Psalm 51:10

Have a great weekend

See ya.

Tray Chic

2010-10-06T17:30:00.009-05:00

I started with a tray from Target and added some fabric with mod podge. Jill saw it in July and wanted it but forgot to pack it when she left. They wanted me to bring it with me last weekend and several times I picked it up, turned it over and over in my hands and laid it back down. I just wasn't happy with it. I couldn't let it go looking like it did. I wasn't through with it yet.

While I loved the fabric idea, it left a ridge around the edge and an ugly (in my opinion) texture. So when I got home from the wedding, with their living room in mind and knowing what they wanted to use it for, I started with some texture medium and began building the surface.

Most of what you see here is one thing after another trying to make it happen in some way. That probably doesn't make any sense but I'm not sure I know how else to say it. I applied texture to some areas trying to leave pieces of the fabric showing, then I added some (water base) glazing product, then stamped some of the areas that seem empty, then sprayed some Tim Holz stain, then added a little red, and then . . . well, you get the picture.

They also liked a candle that I had worked on but I wasn't happy with that either so, after seeing the colors that began developing here I decided to make a new candle for them. Always, I want to glorify God and point to Him in everything I do so what scripture does a newly married couple inspire?

For me, 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 8, 13.

Love is patient ( it never gives up), love is kind ( it cares more for others than for self). It does not envy (love doesn't want what it doesn't have), it does not boast (love doesn't strut), it is not proud (love doesn't have a swelled head).

It is not rude (doesn't force itself on others), it is not self-seeking (isn't always "me first"), it is not easily angered (doesn't fly off the handle), it keeps no record of wrong (doesn't keep score of the sins of others).

Love does not delight in evil (doesn't revel when others grovel) but rejoices with the truth (takes pleasure in the flowering of the truth).

It always protects (puts up with anything), always trusts (trusts God always), always hopes (looks for the best), always perseveres (never looks back, but keeps going to the end).

Love never fails ( love never dies).

And now these three remain (But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation): faith (trust steadily in God), hope (hope unswervingly) love ( love extravagantly). But the greatest (and the best) of these (three) is love.

The scripture in the parenthesis is from The Message bible and the rest is NIV.

I love the way the Message re-words scripture that we know so well; to "love extravagantly" and in 1 Peter 4:8 "love as if your life depended on it". That's some good stuff right there.

I hope that as we look out at our life these two thoughts invade and roll together as one "to love extravagantly and as if our life depended on it".

See here you get a little craft and a little scripture.

Linking with - strut your stuff thursday @ Somewhat Simple

and - show off your stuff @ fire flies and jellybeans

and Transformation Thursday @The Shabby chic Cottage

and House of Hepworths

and 100 ideas under $100 @ Beyond the Picket Fence

See ya and I love you.

Craft Room

2010-10-05T10:29:00.007-05:00

Just playing with new products.

What do you think? Would you hang this on your wall?

Linking with blog parties at -
All Thingz Related -

Today's Creative Blog -

Domestically Speaking: Power of Paint Party -

Trendy Treehouse

Jeremy + Jill

2010-10-04T18:45:00.001-05:00

He met her through mutual friends in January and brought her home to meet me in July. I knew the moment I laid eyes on her it was only a matter of time that she would be his and he would be hers.

His job on Friday was to find the spot. She wanted water, they thought the beach but that turned out not to be, so when I got there we scouted out the lake.

He found his spot

and laid his claim.

She chose black and ivory as her colors but Jeremy loves orange so he added that in his tie. While we were at the store I kept showing him black ties, we looked at silver and red. Then he spotted this one with orange in it and it was so him. It just seemed perfect.

This is their friends and Mark is what their friends call his twin brother. Not so much from looks although they do favor but from mannerisms. This is Mark and Tara.

and this is baby Mark.

As we waited for the bride

the boys strike a pose.

and skip some rocks.

and wait, not anxiously but patiently. Jill's Mom had a terrible time getting down for the wedding. First her flight was canceled then she was flown to the next town over and then she was put on stand by and then they lost her luggage and it didn't show up until Sunday afternoon. So she and Jill had to make a fast and furious shopping trip for a dress.

All the waiting paid off

When we looked up the hill and see her coming in her little Ford chariot.

I made this for her to have something to carry, I don't think she needed it but I totally enjoyed making it and it turned out to be a perfect way to add some orange to the brides ensemble.

Sweet Jillian McCauley

He finally sees his bride and the dress.

Mr and Mrs Jeremy Buckley.

The momma's signed the marriage certificate as the two witnesses.

At the end of the day, it was a perfect and beautiful wedding.

Sucksalotplunker Floral Designs

2010-09-30T11:37:00.003-05:00

I was inspired by Maryann at Domestically Speaking to use something basket-y for my front door wreath. She found hers at an antique store, so I went to my neighborhood antique store and found this picnic basket purse. . . thing-y.

There are no during pictures because I lovingly refer to myself as a floral "plunker" but this time it just wouldn't plunk right so I cut up the floral bush and tried to put them in individually in a design kind of thing-y. As I looked at all those individual flowers laying there on the table I thought, "oh sh.. I mean, um oh no!!! Yea that's what I was thinking, but then I remembered a floral design/Christmas tree decorating professional tell to put it in triangles (on the Christmas decorations) that's just a little ditty from me to you.

Anyway, so I started out with a plan and put them in best I could. But it just kind of looked like a badly plunked floral design, so this morning I decided that I was a "sucksalot" floral designer. And then decided that if I ever opened up a floral design store it would be called sucksalotplunker floral designs.

but then I hung it on the door stepped back and WHAT!!! To my suprise it looked okay.

So I ran back upstairs and plunked a greenery bush and fall leaf garland and

Later I came back and moved that little orange berry looking thingy up into the flowers, it was better.

I've been eye spying some great looking pumpkins, they would look great on both sides of the door. Next.

Linking with some fun blog partied at -
All Thingz Related

Today's Creative Blog

Trendy Treehouse

See ya.

Salty Sister Cooks

2010-09-26T22:08:00.001-05:00

I have been wanting to try this cake for eons. Well maybe not eons, days and days. A friend gave me this recipe for Coconut Pecan Cake. I have to say it is super fast and super easy to make. And super moist. . . and super good.

The recipe is: 1 pkg. Butter Pecan Cake mix
   1 pkg. Coconut Instant Pudding mix
   1 tub Coconut Pecan frosting
   1 cup water
   2/3 cup oil
   4 eggs

Mix cake mix and instant pudding (dry) then add the water, oil, eggs and frosting. Bake at 350 for 45 - 60 minutes in a greased and lightly floured bundt pan. Mine took 55 minutes.

I let it cool for four minutes, that is, four football minutes. Yeah Cowboys!!

add a little whipped topping, so good, so rich.

I better take the rest of this next door.

See ya.

Linking with All Thingz Related.

I love these girls.

Feeling Crafty

2010-09-25T13:00:00.005-05:00

Thank you for coming by please check out all the great projects at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday.

and

All Thingz Related

The Saga of the Sweetheart and The Chicken Dancer

2010-09-23T19:16:00.002-05:00

We showed cattle at the New Mexico State Fair over the weekend

His idea of lunch was a snowcone ours was corn dogs and hot dogs, I mean it was a fair.

Just one look into his eyes and you can see that he is the sweetheart.

I asked him who is the heart for?

My Momma.

Awe.

If you have ever shown animals at fairs you know that it can be a lot of work but for a very imaginative seven year old, it can be . . . well you'll see.

First he found the zip ties and made the heart for Mom, then he kept adding them on and decided it was a crown or a hat or I'm not sure what he was calling it.

And then . . .

. . . it became tail feathers and he became "the chicken dancer".

What follows is surely State Fair History! Surely.

What's up with this guy in the orange shirt, he never cracked a smile, never look Tyler's way, nothing.

Curious. Anyway on with the show.

On the front of the bucket is a sign that says, "will dance for chicken change". People actually gave and they earned $27.00 which they donated to the FFA for a charity that they were sponsoring. He drew quite the crowd, some people just camped out to watch him and some brought friends back around to see him.

He had a lot of stamina and determination, I think he was at for well over an hour. Kaden played out early but not Tyler, he worked it.

And that is the saga of the state fair chicken dancers.