Sunday Blessing

A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky.

Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live;
And O Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall for ever die.

from A Charge to Keep
by Charles Wesley

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I hope your week is off to a good start! How do you like my pansy? Here in Texas they are an all winter flower - they love this weather! (Crazy as it is - warm early this week and back to blustery winter now!) There is also a new post on my other blog. :)

Finished Room Thursday + A Giveaway!

Yes! The office is officially de-cluttered (not counting drawers ahem...)



Now, I know this room won't be in a magazine anytime soon. :) It's not someplace that I have really decorated. (Actually, I'm hoping someday to do a complete remodel... replacing the love seat with a rocker and the desk for a baby bed.) But since that isn't right now, it's nice to have a less cluttered place to spend time. :)

Remember what it looked like before?

Whew. I must say, having so much of that stuff put away properly is very freeing. And it really spurs my creativity. and it's energizing! hmm... what's next?

And I must tell you that this makes it all worth it:

(Posted with approval.) :)

And that you all for your encouragement!! As a thank you, I am having a little giveaway!

I have an extra copy of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I bought it to read a while back, and then this version came out. (You may remember me sharing a similar version of Pride and Prejudice.) I am enjoying reading Sense and Sensibility for the first time!

The copy above that I am giving away isn't fancy, but it's a new book. If you would like it, please say so in your comment. I will draw one name of a person that comments in that way, and drop it in the mail to you. :) I will draw the winner on Monday evening.

Day Three:

The yarn monster...

...has been vanquished!!


Whew! This bag is supposed to be a works in progress bag, but I ended up stashing so many things in there that it took over! It's much better now! :)

So I'm pretty much finished... I still need to go through that basket on the floor.

I also have this pile in the hall that needs to go to that needs to be sorted to different places:


Thanks for all the encouragement. oh, and for letting me share my clutter. I hope it didn't scare you too much! :) Blogging my progress really did help me get things cleaned up. (Although... we won't talk about the drawers - those are for a later time!)

Come back tomorrow for the overall "after" picture! :)

Day Two:

Whew... once I got started today, I just about couldn't stop! Thank you all for your encouragement. I really was thinking, "I've got to blog this..." I did a lot more than I had planned today!

First off, here is a larger view of what the office looked like before:






And a closer look at my corner:

Coffee mug check, coupons check, hair stuff check, candy check, knitting needles check...
And the after shots:
I started at the bookshelf.


Worked at the printer and ironing board area...

That tray is one of my best organizing tips. The mail, especially sale ads for the week, usually ended up on the printer. So when we needed to print, we moved the piles to the ironing board, and when we needed to iron, back the piles went! :) So I found the tray at a thrift shop and put it to good use! There isn't much in it now. I did put our paper there, rather than have it wrinkle sitting upright in the shelf below. The box with the cords is Mark's project... I'm going to let him deal with it. :)

Now the biggest difference!


Whew! I feel so much better!! Everything tends to gather there - my own little drop off. I do still have a basket by the lamp, but it's better to keep things contained, and I will try not to let my stuff outgrow the basket. Oh, and tomorrow I am going through the basket on the floor at right. We don't need another clutter gatherer at the moment, and that is the only purpose it is serving! :)

Up next:
The battle against the yarn that is trying to take over the world!!

Brutal Honesty

...brutal for me that is.

I like many bloggers, try to put up a good front. I stage and crop my photos to give the best possible view. I want my blog to be full of pretty pictures and enjoyable to look at.

Unfortunately, my home, like most, tends to get a bit cluttered. *ahem* I have been working on getting more clutter free. I've been sticking a few things in a donation box, and trashing a few things and generally trying to make my home look better.

Saturday, my big project was our bedroom. I've come to realize more that our bedroom should be one of the last places to get cluttered. So I dug in. I didn't take any "before" pictures, so you'll just have to use your imagination. Here is my official clutter free zone:

(No, the blanket on the bed doesn't match, but I'm keeping it real here! It's warm and my grandma made it for me.) :)

This area below is my main struggle to keep neat. It ends up being the drop zone - especially for clothes. No more! (And I've made it through a Sunday basically clutter free - it's one of my hardest days to keep clutter free.)


This is the newest furniture in the bedroom. Mark finally has an official nightstand! :) I got it for a song at a garage sale! Now all it needs is a good coat of spray paint...



So now we come to this week...

My project this week is our office. This is the room we basically live in - the computers live in here. :) I won't slam you with the whole room today. Believe me, it's scary! I am going to get an area done each day, and I'll report here. You all will be my accountability group. :)

So here's today's project... Before:

I know, scary huh? So much stuff, and dust bunnies so big I had to name them. I named them all "Fred" just to save time. :) (Oh, and sorry for the blurry picture... I wasn't going to mess it all up again just to get a clear one!)

And After:

Yes, there are a few piles still... but it is an office after all, and there needs to be a few working piles. Just so they don't take over.

And I feel better! Come back tomorrow for the next installment. (I know you are all waiting with baited breath!)
Happy Monday!

Sunday Blessing

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

from Abide with Me
by Henry F. Lyte

Finished Object Friday

Valentine's Day is such a fun day to decorate for. I've done more this year than any other. I picked up supplies a little while back to make a Valentine's banner. Despite getting a little overwhelmed when I started working on it, I was very happy with the finished product!


I think the papers have just the right contrast and look like old fashioned homemade valentines:


And the stickers I found were perfect - so glad I did find them! :)


The paper and stickers both came from Hobby Lobby - my favorite store, in case you didn't know that by now! :)

It makes me want to make a banner for every season! hmmm... I think I could use more 4th of July decor...

We had a great FOF last time! I can't wait to see what else you all have been up to again. :) If you are new to Finished Object Friday, please check this post out first. Happy linking everyone, and be sure to visit the other FOF posts.

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A scrappy Finished object. Bedroom Makeover - the before and after edition! Etched Glass Hurricanes

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Happy Popcorn Day!

Did you know that today is National Popcorn Day? Me neither until just a little while ago. :) But what a great day... Popcorn is one of my very favorite snacks. Of course I had to go pop some, but no plain stuff for me today:

YUMMY!!!

This is a no-bake caramel popcorn recipe that we've made for years. I thought I would share it with you "in honor of the day!" (Of course, each day is a reason to celebrate, right? Such a precious gift from God!) Actually, I think I am going to mark this day on my calendar, after all the excitement of Christmas, it's nice to have something else fun for January.


No-Bake Caramel Popcorn
Melt: 1 stick butter or margerine
1 cup brown sugar
Add: 1 cup corn syrup
Bring mixture to a boil and boil one minute.
Remove from heat and add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda.
Stir into popped popcorn.
(I did about 3/4 cup unpopped popcorn. I use an air popper- buy one, you won't regret it. It has pretty much spoiled me for microwave popcorn, and it's healthier too... depending on how MUCH butter you add... ahem.)

Happy Eating!!

A small start....

(Disclaimer: this post was written very late at night early in the morning. At which time I tend to get very wordy. and slightly silly. I didn't intend to write a book on decorating when I started, but to simply share a little decorative change I have made in our Master Bath. Feel free to read as you have time.) :)

To me, decorating is a process. I don't know about you, but I certainly don't feel my home is "decorated." Anyway, what would be the fun in having a home that is entirely decorated? Where do you go from there? I guess you re-decorate, but I don't do that often. When I find something I like, I stick with it for a long while... with modifications, of course!

Take my living room. Before we moved in, it looked like this:

BLEH.

The paint itself was a great improvement, though:


I was so happy to get a mantle (translation: shelf).

Yes, definitely an improvement, but still...


The shelves underneath help to ground it. And the curtain helps the room feel homier too, although I realize it needs to be a bit fuller, and ideally lower, but as you can see, I don't really have that option. (wow what a run-on... good thing I only minored in English...) And all the major components and some smaller ones are the same as when we first moved in. It is a very small living room, and I don't rearrange furniture. It works the way it is, and I can't picture it working any other way... (and I love to rearrange furniture in my mind - even for other people's houses. I'm a little strange that way...) :)

So basically, I get stuck in a rut. And as long as I like the rut, I'm happy. But I haven't really been liking our master bath rut for a little while. The "theme" was something I picked a long time ago, I think because I thought it would fit with the style of my home.

Exhibit A: The clock.

The main problem with the clock is it is loud. The secondary problem is although it is a pretty clock, I am getting a little tired of palm trees. They aren't really me, at least not anymore. So bye-bye clock.

Instead, I came up with this:

Which Mark and I are liking much better. The shelf was a bright yellow garage sale find, and I got on a spray painting binge today yesterday, and painted it the dark brown you see. I thought I would want to do a coat of cream and sand it a little for a shabby chic look, but I think I'm liking that color. It really matches the signs. What do you think?

Oh, and NO the shelf isn't decorated yet. (but the frog is pretty proud to be there, isn't he?) And Yes, I realize that is a palm tree shade. It was the only one I could find that didn't clash too badly. It will go as soon as I find what I want there. Hopefully soon.

I think this is my mantra when it comes to decorating:

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” ~Greg Anderson

Sunday Blessing

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

from O God, Our Help in Ages Past
by Isaac Watts

Guess who...

...is having a birthday today???



Isn't he cute??? I think so!

Happy Birthday, Mark!! I love you lots!

(He's modeling on of his birthday gifts from me - a new hat!) :)

Time for Hearts!

I have been doing a little redecorating now that I have my Christmas decor finally put away! :)

This Christmas ornament is on sale and I knew that it would make the perfect Valentine's Day ornament! (I found the little matching ones at Hobby Lobby.) I love this arrangement (on my dining room table)!

My mantle didn't get a total redo... I think the greenery and lights look wintery! :) So I added a sleigh (90% off at Hobby Lobby!) and a pretty candle holder. It still may need a little more, but it's fun for now.

(Sorry the picture is a little washed out.)

I filled the sleigh with more hearts.

Hope you enjoy this early peek into my valentine decor! I really want to make this heart pillow, too! ...but I'm not sure I have enough buttons... :)

Sunday Blessing

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

from Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
by Henry J. Van Dyke

It's about time!!

Whew!!

Now for all the Cleaning!!! ugg.
and redecorating! Yay! :)

Finished Object Funny!

So what do you do when you and your husband have been all through the storage looking for another one of these?

Why invent your own, of course!! (With a little additional beauty...the bow!)

and a little trusty duct tape, too! :)

Proving once again that necessity really is the mother of invention!

Finished Object Friday

Welcome back to Finished Object Friday!! The first one of the new year. :) Ahh... it's good to be back!

This is my big FOF for the year - 2009, that is! I cast on for the cape on September 4th, and sewed the button on December 21. (Not quite in time for it to reach my Grandmother before Christmas, though.)

I did hit a few bumps along the way, as well as a splash in the frog pond. (It wasn't my favorite place to visit, but I've been there before.) :)

Funny thing about the button... One of the reasons I didn't finish the capelet a few days earlier was because I thought I needed to take a trip into town for a matching button. The button above was exactly what I had in mind! Where did I find it? In a baggy of buttons I bought for 50(?) cents at my favorite thrift sale! The color is perfect!

So here it is being modeled:

Thanks, Angie, for modeling for me! :) My grandma did receive it, and loves it! I am sure she will get a lot of use out of it on her next visit. (She freezes when she comes south to Texas!) :)

Oh, and for you Ravelers out there, here is the link to my Ravelry project page.

So that is my big project! I am not a fast knitter - I don't knit quite as often as I used to. But it is done, and it works - a big plus for my first big garment!

Anyone else have some gifts to share? I'm excited to see more of your projects! If you are new to FOF, click here for an overview.

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A Home Away From Home (monogram button pillow) Mini Mitten Tutorial @  childmade Fleecy warm scarf and mittens Christmas Aprons

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Sunday Blessing

Another year is dawning!
Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with Thee;
Another year of leaning
Upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest;

Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness
In the shining of Thy face;
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise;
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.

from Another Year Is Dawning
by Frances R. Havergal

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow! Another year!! I know you read this everywhere else, but it is still soo hard for me to believe that it is 2010 already... maybe because that is the first time I have written typed it! :) I have been rather absent the last few days, we got back into town last night after ringing the new year in with Mark's family. Fun times!

The next few days are very busy for me, so I won't be doing much blogging then either... but I wanted to let you all know that I am still alive! :) I want to share some of my goals for the new year, once I get them organized! and I will certainly be back for Finished Object Friday!! I am excited to show you my big Finished project, and I can't wait to see some of yours. Maybe they are Christmas presents like mine. :)
Until then,
Happy New Year!!

PS~ Thanks to Angie for the cozy fireplace picture! It is the fireplace at my parent's home - a great place to chat, play games and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate!

PPS~ If you are reading this post in a reader, you may want to pop over to my blog and check out the new wintery design! :)