Happy Birthday Jessica Noelle

H A P P Y BIRTHDAY

to Charlotte's Mom

also a lover of rocking chairs...

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Things In My House Thursday #5

A few years ago we visited my aunt and uncle in Anniston, Alabama, and saw so many beautiful and interesting sights. I had a stack (memory card) full of pictures that I loved from the trip, but didn't have them displayed. The Christmas of that year some good friends gave us a set of unique frames, and one of them was perfect for the Alabama pictures. The frame has little ledges / shelves and they have accumulated trinkets; things that really have nothing to do with the pictures, but that's where they found a home.

Most of the pictures are from Cheaha State Park, but the last one is of a restored, working grist mill. (The home of the toad in this post).

The miscellaneous knick-knacks include a scuffed plastic Woody from Toy Story, a Macho Man from I-have-no-idea, some green army men, little horses, tiny airplanes, and more.

Please join TIMHT; it's fun and easy!

Just write your post and link back here with the url / address.

And don't forget to look at everybody's stuff!!

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Happy Birthday CHARLOTTE!

Today is Charlotte's actual TWO YEAR birthday!

We had the party last Saturday; today we took pictures outside then went to the mall for running around and eating at Chick-fil-a. The fun isn't over; we're going to Captain D's later for the family-traditional chocolate cake. . .

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Giveaway for Photographers

I am in love with something that I never knew existed - until just a few minutes ago; thanks, Rachel!!

The Vintage Pearl is hosting a giveaway for a beautiful, colorful, comfortable camera strap cover. You NEED to go to Etsy and check these out!

I've entered, and even if you don't want one, you should enter, and if you win. . . . give it to me : )

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Things In My House Thursday #4

This is a fairly new addition to our home decor; a little candle lantern that I bought recently at the Farmer's Market. It is hanging in the atrium, on one of the ficus tree branches.

I picked up this bright yellow lantern from a booth operated by a beekeeper. It came with 3 or 4 little (votive size) beeswax candles for only $9.00 !


The booth is interesting because they always set up a display of the real, live bees in action - scary, except that they are housed between sheets of glass; it's like a large ant farm.


I also bought honey - and I can affirm that very fresh, local honey is different (way better) than even the ''best'' (organic, expensive, etc.) store-bought honey. I - and Christopher - can also confirm that local honey consumption really does lessen the severity of outdoor allergies - dramatically.


I've found so many interesting things at the Market this summer - in addition to the great fruits and veggies. I've bought plants, coffee, baked goods, flavored butter, earrings, goat's milk soap and lotion, a bird feeder, Christmas ornament, etc. It's all good!

Join the THINGS IN MY HOUSE THURSDAY meme and visit the
other contributors for the fun of it!

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Word-Filled Wednesday

"Be Still, and know that I am God. . . "

Psalms 46:10

Come join Word Filled Wednesday; share the word of God.

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Charlotte's Party - 2 Years Old!!

There'll probably be some redundancy on the family blogs this weekend;

today was Charlotte's TWO-year old birthday party,

and we (I) might have taken a few pictures. . .

The cake tasted as good (could it have been even better?) as it looked. Ditto the cupcakes. I would say "thanks" to Becca, but I won't, because I'm pretty sure that she spent a little bit of time refuting my claim that I made the cake. . . . I'm mean really, where was the harm??

Mary's old rocker (re-painted) was an unexpected hit. I can think of at least one mom (Melanie) that is likely to be shopping for their own as we 'speak'.

The weather was unseasonably bearable, actually pleasant, which worked out very well for the bubble machine.

Lots of fun and food, lots of perfect gifts, lots of great guests!!

And the huggin' BFFs again!!

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Things In My House Thursday #3

This little piece of metal wall art is self-explanatory:

"No one lives on the moon because there isn't a Wal-mart!"

I've had it for approximately ten years; when I got it, it pretty much summed up my life. . . . now it would be a tad more appropriate if it said "Target" instead of

"Walmart".

Now, I must say a HUGE thanks to Muddy, for "Things on My Blog"; she made the TIMHT Button!! Love It!!

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Very Rewarding

I have officially been bestowed with a blogging Award!

Amy, from A Redeemed Sheep, nominated me for this honor, and when I had time to think about it, the award logo seemed familiar. . . . . it seems that Jessica also sort of / kind of nominated me back during my two-week hiatus, but she did NOT follow directions or obey the rules, so I pretty much missed it.

The rules that go with this award:

Put the logo on your blog
Link to the person you received your award from
Nominate at least 7 other blogs
Put links to those blogs on your site
Leave messages on the blogs you've nominated

I am doubling up on one of Jessica's nominees, because she missed it too:

1)  Mary

2)  Renna:  simply an original favorite; one of my first bookmarked blogs.  She led me to Amy.

3)  Ava:  this is really Melanie, Ava's mom.  Melanie is our hairdresser, friend, and just a really neat person and mother.

4)  Marilyn, at A Mixed Bouquet:  There is so much fun information here, about blogging, homeschooling, devotions, etc.; and you can even learn about the life of a cucumber. . .

I'm going out on a limb with numbers five and six, because I am simply a lazy lurker at their sites.  They don't have a clue who I am, but I really, really enjoy both blogs. 

5)  Blair at Wise Craft

6)  Raising Oaks Of Righteousness

And for number 7 . . . .  . . I've got nothing.  Amy stole my Muddy, and has already awarded her.  Apparently she either did not understand that Muddy was mine, or she didn't care, and it has left me short.  But I forgive all, seeing as how Amy is so sweet and thought of me in the first place!!

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Things In My House Thursday #2

THE BEAR

We don't employ a Wal-mart greeter at our house, but we do have a very friendly bear at the front door.

She usually stands in the same spot, wearing a golden crown. . .. but she has been known to move around a little and dress for holidays and special occasions.


She's four feet tall, brown, and is handy for waving or holding bags with her flexible arms.






Why? How? You might be wondering.


I can give you the "how", but there is really no "why" except that she looked like she belonged with me.



I was shopping in a florist's wholesale store with someone who needed my van for 'cargo'. It was the most incredible place to shop: bottom floor / outdoors filled with any and all kinds of plants and trees of varying sizes, and the upstairs - full of household decor, accessories, lighting, ribbons, etc. In the very back of the second floor, decked out for a Christmas display (in the middle of summer), was this bear and some of her family.


She's lived with us for a few years now, and has never given us a bit of trouble.


No one's ever been frightened of her, even though I tried to convince the teenagers that she is like one of the bears in Kings, and that they'd better be respectful!! (They didn't fall for it.)


We've never named her, and that sounds a little sad as I tell her story, but she hasn't meant less to us because of it.


I hope you enjoyed this TIMHT, and that you will join us; it's beary simple, just link back here to share!

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August is busy; we have three family birthdays and there's all the back-to-school business. And mostly, it is just too hot to do anything. Anything.


Well, except for reading and blogging.

I am just a few pages short of finishing C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce". It is my first C.S. Lewis, and it makes me want more. No, I never even read the Narnia books; I've seen the movies, I know how popular the series is, but I have always shied away from 'fantasy' fiction. Just like Lord of the Rings: love the movies, but never wanted to read the books.

But I am very pleasantly surprised! I have been enjoying this book so much; I love the writing style, the imagery, and the ideas.

As for blogging:

Don't forget to tune in tomorrow for the second edition of "Things In My House Thursday".

Invite a friend! It's fun!

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TEN MINUTES

When I began taking my clutter-busting seriously, when I got rid of so much at Jessica's garage sale, when I started reading organizing books (and finishing them!), I started seriously looking around my house and taking a harsh inventory.

I would sit on my couch and look about my living area and ponder what, of my possessions and STUFF, was really important to me? Where did that knick-knack come from? Why did I buy that pillow? Am I ever going to read that book? Do I even still like the person in that picture frame? : )

The questions continued in other rooms: would I ever need 24 plates at the same time, of three different patterns, for our lifestyle? Would I really need 6,000 cleaning rags? Could I possibly use up all those different hair products, when I rarely do more than cram my hair into a giant clip?

I did get obsessed - but in a good way. A clean way. A realistic way. And when I rested physically, I kept going mentally:

I wondered; if I had just TEN minutes to get out of my house 'forever', what things would I take? I decided that ten minutes is long enough for me to get out the most important things, but I erred in thinking these thoughts aloud to my husband. . .

He was confused and appalled. He didn't get the point of such thoughts, at all, and ultimately, he was just disturbed that my list didn't include a single big-ticket appliance. I don't think he was able to sleep that night.

What was on my list?

My recipe collection. My stuffed monkey and bumpy pillow that I sleep with. My purse, with phone. My plastic boxes of kids' keepsakes and handmades and home movies. My expensive tennis shoes. A sweater or jacket. (Who knows?) I might grab my DVDs (now that they would be easy to grab), or some artwork. If I am moving quickly and find myself with three or four extra minutes, I'll start grabbing some books.

You may be wondering why photographs aren't on the list. Well, this is where I can understand my husband, a tiny bit. I have toooooooo many photos and albums to get them all. Toooooo many negatives, slides, etc. I am working to scan and upload and share my pictures so that if the unthinkable happens, I haven't lost them. If I get my collection down to a manageable size, then they'd definitely be leaving the house with me.

The reason the tennis shoes are on the list: I really like them, and I paid too much money for them. I would never replace them, so they would go with me. Ditto why I'd take the DVDs; also replaceable, but unlikely to happen.

My 'list' may change over time, but those are the things I'd grab if I had to do the grabbing right now.

So, if you can allow yourself to conjure up a scenario where you have to be out of your house for good, in ten minutes, and your family and animals are SAFE, what would you take? Comment, or write a post and link here.

See you at the curb!

P.S. You can have imaginary moving men if some pieces of furniture are part of what you wouldn't want to start over without.

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