I've been just a little quiet....

But with very good reason!! Not only did we move into a new home this year, (YES!!) have to undergo a bit of reconstruction in our living room - because of water damage, had some fun decorating our new home (though I don't feel anywhere NEAR settled yet... with time..)

Just a couple of my wintery touches... ;) 

 BUT our family has had a HUGE surprise!! Something I never expected to happen...

Yes!!! I am expecting!!!! I am in the second trimester, and though morning sickness wasn't too bad, I'm happy to be feeling much better and to be getting some energy back!!

At 19 weeks this past Thursday, I'm finally starting to "pop" a bit and am enjoying my little bump! ;) I have felt a few little flutters, but am excited to really start feeling my little one!!

It was such a surprise to find out that The Lord has sent our next little one to us this way! We were starting to discuss getting geared up for the next adoption! ;) (I had been feeling a bit of "baby fever.") And while we thought we'd wait til our active, very busy toddler was just a tad bit older, God has other plans, and His plans are perfect!! (Even though this Matron of Honor is due just two days before her dear sister's wedding!! YES! God does have quite the sense of humor!!) ;)

So, just a little "catch up" post on my blog... And I've got a few book reviews to catch up on as well. ;) I've been a bit remiss on a couple of my programs and I don't want to be disqualified. It takes me a while to get through a book these days for some strange reason!! :P

Finished Object Friday: Celebrating Spring!

Thankfully, spring has started to "spring" around here!! We are starting to see blooms!! So happy! I know we don't have a whole lot to complain about down here in Texas, but the trees are about a month late budding out! Such a strange year! But my little project made it feel a bit more like spring whether the weather cooperated or not!

I haven't made many wreaths, but I'm thinking this could quickly become a favorite craft!! It wasn't that expensive to make and came together quickly as well! It sure has been fun to have something cheery on our front door (it had been empty since I took our Christmas decorations down!)  I got a lot of inspiration from Pintrest, no surprise there! And the supplies came from Hobby Lobby. Oh, and my mom actually did the bow. She's the expert bow maker! :)

 

So, yes, I have had a couple of minutes here and there to squeeze in some crafting! Little "Joy" is sleeping for looong stretches at night - usually at least 8 hours!! YAY!!! She is such a sweetie and we are so very blessed! :) Not sure when I'll get the next bit of craftiness in, other than hair bows for my little one. I've had fun with that! Maybe I'll do a post of bows sometime... :) 

Until then, feel free to link up here with a project!! Maybe you've had a minute to put together something springy?! 

31 Days of Settling: Day 16

Well, I didn't get before pictures today, and I didn't feel like reconstructing a before picture this time. I guess you all will just have to use your imagination. :) 

I finally cleared off the whole dining room table (instead of just an end for eating)! And I put on a pretty fall arrangement (which was mostly already arranged, so that part was easy!)

I also put the finishing touches on the top of the piano. I hung the mirror Monday and put on a few things. Today I added just a bit more to make it more welcoming and pretty. :) 

I love having this hymn picture here. So perfect for the season!! 

31 Days of Settling: Day 15

Or maybe I should call this day 14 1/2, since I did this Monday... :)

Here's our fireplace before:

And after:

I'm glad to have a few of my fall decorations out! Yes, the curtain rods are still out, but hopefully soon they'll actually have curtains on them!! :) I love the cozy glow of my lights. It was interesting decorating this mantel because it is much longer than the one at our house (although not any deeper). It's not perfect, but it's fun and inviting! 

31 days... Of getting settled.

Well, 31 more or less... We'll see if I  actually post each of the 31 days in October... Wait! Can it really be October already??? What an adventure the past couple of months has been!!

We are moved into an apartment! That in and of itself has been a journey. I won't give you the long version, but the short version is that God provided a very nice apartment in the complex that Mark and I lived our first year of marriage. 

That's the good part... The hard part has been trying to fit from a three bedroom house with two living areas, into a two bedroom apartment. It is a very daunting task. 

However, I thought if I brought you all along with me this month as I make some effort in getting us settled, that it would inspire me to just keep plodding! And it will be fun to look back on what we have accomplished. And, hey, maybe you even have some tips for me! I'll take any help I can get!! 

First off, I wanted to start with a pretty picture:

The welcome mat I bought before we even moved out of our home, and I saved it for our apartment. The burlap wreath is the same one from last year. That has been one of my most used projects, I do believe! 

Not pictured above: the beautiful mum from my parents to really cheer up my front door! But here it is... It's really starting to bloom out! 

That's the fun part... The NOT so fun part is what it still going on inside... 

(And will you believe it when I say, that is an AFTER shot from Saturday??? Yipes! Inspiration needed ASAP!) 

So it may be baby steps at times, but I will try to post a progress photo every day... Except probably Sundays, that IS a day of rest, after all. ;) 

First day...

of spring!!!! :) just wanted to share a quick picture that I didn't get on my spring decor post. I am having fun with my mom's old partial Scrabble set!! :)

Valentine's Day Mantel

I hope you all are having a good week!! It has already been a busy week for us! I wanted to pop in and share our Valentine's Day mantel.



I didn't do much different from last year, but I have been enjoying it. Although with some of the beautiful weather we had last week, I was about ready to go ahead and put my spring decor up. Not this week though... it's been cold and rainy, perfect weather for enjoying my cozy winter decor a few days longer. :)

I hope you each have a very happy Valentine's day!! 

Annual Fall Tour

Welcome!! It seems that my "Fall Tour" has become somewhat of a tradition - at least for me. I really enjoy decorating the house cozy for fall. Pull up a chair and have a cup of hot cider! Welcome!

Monday I worked in my flower beds. I have been so ready for pretty color, especially after such a long hot summer. 

I'm loving the color on the front porch - I usually have an ivy in the stand, but it didn't survive the summer too well.

I got lots of pretty pansies planted, but they haven't quite recovered from the replanting. (Don't we all take time getting used to new situations?) :)

Into the living room:

My fall mantle - much more simple than usual, but I'm enjoy it! (unfortunately... I just now realized that I forgot to fasten my fall word picture back down... amazing what pictures will reveal... heehee!! It doesn't like to stick to the paper backing...)

My piano! I need to do another post on this later... it is my mom's old piano, and I am really enjoying having an actual piano in my home! (as well as decorating it...)

On my dining room table:

Well, that's it for now! I hope you enjoyed the tour... come back soon! :)

Enjoying Winter

There's a saying about Texas.... "We have winter here, last year it was on a Tuesday." :)  That's about right some years! This week, however, it's been very cold and started off with a nice snow on Sunday... snow that's still around in spots! Each time I glance out of the window, it's like getting a little surprise! I forget in my daily tasks that there is still snow on the ground. It's amazing that it's lasted this long, usually it's gone by the next day!

Here is my view Sunday afternoon from the living room window:


We didn't build a snowman this year...not quite as much snow as we had last year. But we did enjoy watching it coming down and I did make some snow ice cream! YUM! :)  I also made some three bean chili and Mexican cornbread to warm our insides on that cozy Sunday afternoon! :)


It was pretty yummy!! and the fresh cilantro really added a nice flavor.

I've also done a bit of this:


I still feel sooo blessed to have this wheel! I remember looking at taking a spinning class or two, just hoping I would know how to make my own yarn! I have been given such a wonderful gift!! I'm hoping to ply my first skein soon! :)

I hope each of you is having a wonderful week so far! Did you get any snow? (of course, those of you farther north may be happy to send us what you got!) :)

"Our State Fair"

"...is a great state fair...." Well, I'm not sure if our fair is a state fair, and it isn't very "great." In fact, it's become much smaller over the years. But a little while back our family (plus Lorie - who is an honorary member of the family...) :) visited our little local fair. We had a fun time just being together, seeing the animals and eating yummy (and oh, so healthy...) food! :)

First stop:

The cattle! More specifically - longhorns!!

I found Wilbur!
Charlotte must have been taking good care of him, because he was sleeping soundly! :)

We enjoyed the sea lion show (a couple of times...) They were so neat!

Look at the size of this guy's horns!!

We ran into some friends and enjoyed the petting zoo with them! :)

On our way out...
The girls:

and Mom and Dad (Mark opted to stay home. oh well.) :)

For some reason this song comes to mind.... and I don't even like this musical! :)

My Day

Out my window:

Beautiful autumn color and rain. Glorious rain!!

Clean dishes:

Our dishwasher isn't working right, but I'm enjoying washing dishes by hand. (for the moment anyway...) For the record, I grew up without a dishwasher. I really don't mind too much and rather enjoy the warm soapy water - especially in cooler weather!

A newly sorted sock drawer:

Yes, I do have a problem. Anyone know of a good Socks Anonymous group?  :)

Finding out if I still remember how - it's been a while:

I do. So relaxing. Why don't I do it more often???

Listening to the sounds of thunder and rain as well as Little Women....

What does your day hold?

Sunday Blessing

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!

Jesus! Lover of my soul;

Friends may fail me, foes assail me,

He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!

Let me hide myself in Him.

Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,

He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Refrain:

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Hallelujah! what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

He is with me to the end.

Selected from:

Our Great Saviour

by J. Wilbur Chapman

Annual Fall Tour

The last couple of years I have give you all a tour of my fall decorating. It seems, I have set a precedent. There is something about the warmth of fall that makes me want to share some hospitality!

The days have (finally) gotten cooler here in Texas. It seems fall has finally arrived! The trees are turning beautiful colors and it's time to make a batch of hot chocolate mix! (Must add ingredients to shopping list...) So go grab a cup of hot chocolate or hot tea and a yummy cookie or scone and enjoy some Southern hospitality...

The view as you step into my living room:

I know it looks blue - but my couch really is green. :)

My mantel this year - not much different from last year... I'm really wanting to redo what hangs over the mantel. Maybe sometime this year. :)

Coffee table:

The little side table by the couch:

I love my new (old) little candy box! A recent thrifty find!!

I think this is my favorite corner at the moment. It turned out pretty good, and we have really been enjoying our digital frame - about time we got it out of the closet!! Mark got it at a work party a couple of years ago and we finally got it going. :)

 

And my dining room table:

Yes, the runner is running across the table instead of lengthwise - probably not the most decoratively accurate way, but it works for us! :) 

I hope you have enjoyed our fall tour!! Now I'm off to enjoy the rest of the lovely cool weather (and get a little lot of laundry done!) :)

PS~Don't forget the lovely fall music! I bought the soundtrack to Little Women and have really enjoyed the relaxing cheerful music in the background! (If you play my music at left you will find a 30 second preview of it at the top... enjoy!) :)

Family Time

Saturday was Mark's dad's birthday, so this weekend we made a quick trip up to help celebrate. We had a very enjoyable time with the family - including Mark's grandmothers. Saturday evening, Mark's brother, Ryan, cooked chicken on the grill while snowflakes started gently falling. :) We had a yummy supper topped off with birthday cake and Bluebell ice cream. (Those of you who don't have Bluebell are really missing out!!) :)

Later that evening, we gals had some quality crafting time. I don't really scrapbook anymore (I guess my blog has become my scrapbook...) but does anyone have any guesses as to what my craft is?

(more on my "craft" later...)

Sunday morning we woke up to this:

Wow!! Can you believe - about 5 inches of snow!!

We headed back home and enjoyed passing fields of white, and pretty painted forests! Today was a beautiful warm sunny day! Hmm... wonder if spring is here to stay this time? :)

Happy May Day!!

I wanted to share some of the flowers around my garden. So just pretend your doorbell has rung and you find this post hanging on the knob! :)

My impatient if finally blooming again. Hmm... I think it likes water or something like that! :)

I have a miniature bush that Mark gave me last year. It is blooming it's little head off! I love the cheery yellow at the end of my flower bed! (unfortunately, it is getting eaten and doesn't look the greatest close up. I need to do some work on it.)


I put geraniums in my little bed out front. I think they are pretty happy there!


This one surprised me this morning. It's my cucumber plant! (The lone seedling to survive! I'm glad I planted four!) It's still in a little plastic pot, but I guess it's happy there!


Some more little yellow flowers! I'm really happy about seeing a bunch of these!


...because they turn into these!

I hope you enjoyed my May Day tour! Have a great weekend!

Blessings!
Charity