~Living Simply~

I have been visiting different blogs and found more than one which speaks of a simple life style or simple living ! I found this very interesting and decided to do some more research on the subject. I went to google search and typed in "Simple Living". The more web sites I came to and read up on them ,the more I realized I have pretty much led a simple life, for many years now. No, I don't grow my own fruits and vegetables are get fresh eggs from yard chickens ,and all my meat comes from the grocery store. I do some times wish I had a milk cow because my son drinks milk like water. For many years I did not have a phone ,and I am not talking about a cell phone, just a regular house phone. I didn't have a washer or a dryer and washed my clothes out by hand or we would spend a half a day on Saturday at the local laundry washing clothes. The kids always had a great time at the Laundry Mat! I heated water on a wood stove and that was the means of heating our home as well. We lived in a very simple and modest house and most all our clothes , the kids toys and my house decorations came from hand me downs, garage sales, thrift stores and the like. I wasn't fortunate enough to own a sewing machine and never have learned to sew very well. I did do mending and such by hand and made the kids a few hand made dolls and so fourth. I was gifted a nice sewing machine from one of the sisters in our church last year and I plan to learn more sewing skills with it. To this day I had rather go second hand shopping than any other way! Of course, The Lord has always provided that which we were in need of, in one way or another ,and continues to do so to this day. My husband finely was blessed with a good job, by this time our three eldest children were grown,he was earning more money than he ever had in the past and I was also working off and on. We were living modestly but comfortably and even had some credit and were able to save a little money to take a simple trip from time to time. Our bills were payed , we had medical and dental insurance,and then at no fault of his ,my husband lost his job. Which left us owing a great deal of money to credit cards that we were unable to pay. Also, left us with no medical or dental insurance ! So, we have pretty much gone back to living a simple life. My husband did finely find work again and I had to quit working long before that due to my health so these days we live on one income which is very modest. We were blessed to be able to pay off our car loans after he had lost his work and our home was already payed for. We now live in a very modest home and have cut back in many areas to compensate where the money is needed most. I do plan on learning more about this simple living and see if we may benefit more from it in ways I don't know much about.
I truly can say I have never desired a lot of material things in life and have found myself to be content with more less, than more. As I said ,God has always been our provider and for that, I am so grateful to him !

Our life's are so blessed with things that can't be afforded with money ! Like the health of our four children and six grand children. The love of many friends and extended family members. To be able to worship God freely and openly without fear of persecution.

Yes, I truly live a simple life and find much peace and comfort in doing so ! If we live this life style by choice, are by chance ,I believe one can truly be content in whatever the reason.

God bless you in what ever way you choose to live your life today. If it is a life which pleases God and brings him honor and you find true contentment than I would say that it is a life well worth living!

Blessings,Shelley

~Meet "Duke"~

A few days back I mentioned to Becky (Sweet Cottage Dreams)after she did the most sweet post about her little Mr. Doggs, that we had a Boston Terrior(Duke). I told her in my comment that I may do a post about him so, this is for you Becky ! Duke has been a member of this family for going on nine yrs. now. We brought him home when he was just five weeks old. He is about the most rotten dog one has ever seen, thanks to my husband ,who refers to him as "Little Buddy"! He is a smart dog and minds a lot better than some of the kids. When my husband is at work he is a very behaved little dog. When "Daddy" gets home he thinks he doesn't have to listen to me any longer. He will sit up and speak for his treats and he loves popcorn and will catch everyone I toss him.He is really quite the character.

~Duke, sitting up for you~



Here are some of the Boston Terrior things we have aquired over the years.








Hope you enjoyed meeting Duke ! Have a wonderfully blessed day, Shelley

~Making a Tea Cozy~

Directions for making a cute tea cozy, from" Old Fashion Living"
Here is a pretty little tea cozy to dress up your table when company comes.
You will need: Fabric scraps thin batting lace for outer edge (optional) 6" ribbon DIRECTIONS:Measure your tea pot for height and width.
Add 1 1/2" to each measurement. These two measurements constitute the size of your tea cozy.
Cut two pieces of pretty print fabric the size of your measurements.
Cut two pieces of plain fabric the same size for lining.
Cut two pieces of thin batting or old towelling the same size for middle.Layer 1 batting on bottom, 1 print fabric, right side up and 1 plain fabric.
Stitch along bottom edge using 1/2" seam allowance.
Trim seam allowances and flip plain fabric to opposite side.
Press lightly.
Repeat layering and sewing for other side.
Lay saucer on layered fabrics, in one corner then the other, tracing around to round off top corners.
Cut off excess fabric.
On right side of one layer, place lace with raw edges even with raw edges of fabric.
Pin easing lace around curves carefully.
Tuck ends under to wrong side.
Lay right sides of cozy together.
Sew around three sides using 1/2" seam allowance and catching in lace as you go.
Trim edges of fabric layers to 1/4".
Turn right side out and push out corners gently.
Add loop of ribbon on one side at top for pretty handle.

~Old Fashion Living~

Today I want to share a very unique website with you. It is called

"Old Fashion Living"http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/. This place has scores of information from crafting to cooking, making tea and holding tea parties, gardening and much , much more. You will want to go take a look for yourselves! I first discovered it when we held our little girls tea party at church and I was looking for information on Teddy Bear Tea's. I found it to be very informative and used some of their ideals. I like to live simply and always have. Even more so in years passed than now ! It has just always been part of my life to make gifts when there was no money to buy them , to wash clothes out by hand when I had no means of a washer. I have even cooked our meals outside over an open fire before , because we had no cook stove are gas to burn one. I never begrudged these things, I just simply did what I had to do ! I have had to live very primitively in the passed and looking back I was learning some valuable life lessons. Life is just what you make it ,no matter the circumstances around you. That is how I apply it to myself anyway. Saying all that I will leave you with some Old fashion ,and fun pictures to look at !

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~Fun Pictures~ ~Miss Lady~

~My daughter ,Regina raised this squirrel from just a nestling, he had lost his Mom~

Thank you all for dropping in, Blessings, Shelley