Tea Talk and Chit Chat

Go grab you a cup of tea and lets talk, OK!  I'm still reading The Mitford Series by JanKaron. Right now I'm in the third book, These High Green Hills. I've not been reading as much as I once did though. I believe I truly enjoy the Amish stories much more, and after this series I'll probably begin another Amish one.

I'm also thinking I need to start being more creative, to the point of making some things and stocking my etsy shop that has been in limbo for years. Earning a little extra income sure wouldn't hurt either. We are having some very warm weather for January, in the low 80's the last couple of days. January is most often our coldest winter month, but back in October we had some much colder than normal weather so maybe an early spring is in store.  On the good side , I'm saving on my propane, which is quite expensive, by not having to burn my heater.

This picture below is from a friends craft room. If I fix myself such a space,I may really get busy creating  ;)

My daughter Regina and I got out and about for a while today. We hit a couple of thrift stores and then had lunch, then to shop for household things. It was a beautiful day, but I was actually sweating, very warm for a winter day indeed. I know some of you are most likely looking out your windows at the snow piles growing larger.  I love snow, but we never see enough of it here. I know it can become troublesome at times too, too much of even a good thing is just to much! OK, ladies enough tea talk for this time......I've rattled on enough. Until next time ......be blessed♡

Chit Chat.........

The latest

I like buying pretty new dish towels and hanging them on the oven door handle.  They are cheap, and make great decoration for the kitchen.  I leave then there until I grow tired of seeing them, then I take them off and throw them in the wash. After washing them I will use them and buy new ones too hang. The kids all know not to use the towels hanging on Meme's oven door :)     

Dresser in my bedroom.  I have to be careful are it becomes a catch all.  The little basket holds all my meds . I'm going to replace the lamp , as I use it for reading and this one just isn't big enough. I gotta see to read!

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Have any of you ever read The Mitford series by Jan Karon?
 I just finished book one of the series. At Home in Mitford.

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At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon, is a delightful novel that details the life of Father Tim, the rector of Lord's Chapel in Mitford, North Carolina. Father Tim questions his calling and his ability to lead the parishioners at Lord's Chapel. The town of Mitford and the characters that live there enhance the priest's life throughout the year, bring him great joy and happiness.

Now, I'm looking for number two "A Light in the Window" . I had never read any of this author's books before, and it took me a bit to get interested in this one, but overall  I enjoyed reading it very much.

I am also making a few little quaint changes around the cottage,I'll be sharing that soon. So what are you up too this week ,my friend?  I hope something fun and pleasant,........ Blessings

Chit Chat...this and that

I went through a half day of testing on my heart last Friday. The nurse called this morning and said all was normal. I am praising God for those results as I know it is his work in me. Although I suffer daily with terrible pain from the arthritis,and fibromyalgia...God continues to bless me with good test results in other vita areas of my body. My blood pressure has even been amazing the doctor. He commented that it was almost too good.....hum, I didn't know that was possible :)  So, I now know all the huffing, puffing and feeling sick to my stomach while out trying to shop or even just walking from one place to the other is stress from all this weight I carry. I still know that isn't a good thing and yes,it stresses my heart, yet my heart is strong and hopefully won't fail me anytime soon. I pray some of the weight will come off after the bariatric surgery and then I can have surgery to replace my knees. That's the plan...God willing. I just want to be a healthy vessel for God to work through. I now know he has a plan for my future, which doesn't include being confined to my bed or a wheelchair.

Succulents

Picked up some more plants recently,and the cute " Miss Mouse " to the right is a string holder....she is supposed to have a little pair of scissors for her eye glasses. I liked her colors....retro...right? The string ball fits through the back and comes through the front through a little hold in the top of her bag. I am about to re-pot this Kalanchoe...I love these plants....they come in all different colors. I got my daughter Regina a yellow one for her recent birthday.

I really like this page below from pinterest...I believe it was! I weeded through my own books again last week. I took away about 30...sized them down quite a bit! I won't be buying anymore for sometime. I have many good books to read now,thanks to my daughter and some wonderful blogging friends who sent me some lovely books. Thanks again ladies...you know who you are :) I would make some changes to the below arrangement,but I still like the style very much.

And this is from my kitchen .......

Regina and I stopped at one of our favorite sales after the doctor's visit on Friday. It was the Spring sale of the Salvations Army Ladies Axillary. Between us we spent under four dollars. I only got a few things,and will share them in another post. I wasn't fit much for looking or shopping after all those test,but it was fun to stop by,and I ran into a friend while I was there, I had a chance to say hi,and see her sweet baby girl again. I hope you all have a lovely week....until next time....blessings

Weeding....chit...chat

Dolls on my bed....Bethy, and Chatty Baby!

 I weeded through my bookshelf's and have a whole box leaving my home. Plus,some knick knacks, a set of Easter bunnies,a Christmas wreath and some other items,which I have already forgotten, have been donated to our local charity shop "We Care Too ".
Back in the first of December, I sold some of my dolls on ebay through a friend,and she has some others she will put in her booth at the antique mall. I gave my vintage Tiny Tears to my friend Betty as a Christmas present. She had one just like her as a child, and I knew she would love having my doll.

Tiny Tears

 My plan is to only keep a few of my larger dolls, also a few smaller ones, my Hitty doll and a couple of her companions! :)  I have been gathering some tiny things for Hitty Jane ,in hopes of having her a doll house one day. I am trying to convince my eldest son to build me a plain four room doll house. I think I may have him close now,to being convinced that is :)

Hitty Jane

I heard a comment recently if something is packed away,stored out of sight,not being used or appreciated,then essentially it has already been discarded. I thought about that and in my reasoning,its seems to be a correct statement. I wouldn't say so, as far as seasonal things,in the way of holiday decorations,nor would I put keepsake items in with that category,because in my thinking ,those things are retrieved from time to time for their purpose. Does that make any sense to you at all? What I do have in my possession, I would like to have out in the open so that it is being used or at least appreciated by sight of it. So with all that being said , my "weeding " process will continue until I reach my goal,and will begin again at some point afterwards, if I feel my home becoming to cluttered once again. I am happy to say...I have just about reached the point of not having any excess storage in or outside of my home. I only have a few more storage boxes to weed through. Realizing that feels pretty good too!  I am still looking for that "Remembrance Chest" to store my keepsakes in. The one I made mention of  in this post! It won't need to be big...middle size will work just fine! OK, I think I have taken enough of your time with my thoughts of weeding! Thanks so much for all of your prayers regarding my previous post...there are going to be hard days ahead for certain loved ones,but they are trusting the Good Lord and he won't let them down. Blessings to each and everyone of you.....Shelley

Chit Chat

This clown is coming to one of your homes soon.

Its been raining lightly off and on for most of the day,and I have been sung in my little mobile cottage puttering. One of those days when you seem to have been busy for most of the day,but when you stop and look around, its hard to see that you have made much of an accomplishment. That's what happens when you are mostly just going through things,moving this and that around...sorting through drawers and such. I do have a bag of things ready to be taken to the charity shop, so that's a good thing, I reckon! I packed a box of other things to put away. I do that from time to time...pack some things and bring out others. I still feel as if I am cluttered, and I have gotten rid of so much over the last year or two. All I can say is... I am still on a weeding spree! Truthfully, it may never end. I may just keep a practice of gathering up a box or two of stuff about once a month for the charity shop from now until kingdom come...so to speak :)

Remember these lanterns I just hung recently? Well, I took them down today.

I just decided they were a bit to festive for everyday. I kept them though, maybe for some fun occasion  :)
If I could have you girls come here for a day,there is so much I could give you to take back home with you.
As I was going through some things today...I kept thinking...I know she would love this, wish I could put in the mail for her. Then I came across something else and thought....and you know who would really love this...wish she didn't live so far away. If I had enough extra money I believe I could find something to box up for each and everyone of you. By the way...I really talk to myself too when I am puttering around here  :)
I do that alot since I live alone now.
I haven't forgotten I mentioned there will be a give away coming up here on my blog. I certainly have one in my plans, just not quite sure how soon it will be! I have had a mind to send someone that clown in the first picture for a while now, so got to get him shipped off first. First things first, right?

Trying to catch up on some letter writing too. I also started a new crochet project today. A Prayer Blanket for a very special wee one on the way. No, I have no more grandchildren expected anytime soon  :)  ,but a sweet friend is expecting a precious baby added to her family soon. I am very happy for her and her husband.   Hope your week has started off wonderfully. Blessings to all of you, Shelley

Little Things

Our mornings are starting to get very cool here in my neck of the woods. I am thinking it is time to pull out my yarn and needles and start finishing some crochet projects I started a good while back. I love to crochet...its sort of a therapy for me. I have made many prayer shawls, baby blankets and such over the years. I first learned to crochet from my mother in law teaching me many years ago when I was still a very young mother. Rosie was a wonder with her hands. She pieced quilts, could sew up a storm,crochet.....so many creative things she could do. I sure miss her at times. She went to be with the Lord in 2001. I wish I could sit around her quilting frames in her back room and help her quilt again. I am thankful for the memories I have of my second mother. It is a shame so many of our younger generation of young women are no longer interested in homemaking skills. It is a terribly busy world we live in today. I so wish people would just slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures in life..in their homes, etc.  They just have no idea what they are missing. It is all about ambition today....getting ahead, but I ask...Ahead of what?  Leave me behind to seek the lost attributes of a more simpler time. A more unsophisticated, uncomplicated time. So many things go unnoticed in the lives of the rushed about. They miss the beautiful sound of a birds song, the picture in the clouds, a baby's smile or even their own child asking for just a quite minute of their parents time before they all rush out the door of a morning...into a world of get more, achieve more. So much is being lost,tossed away in the process of making money. To me...it really seems a shame! Things lost that can never be bought back, with any amount of money. O me....how did I go here? But I don't take back what I have typed here...tis true!  Blessings friends

September Musings

Hope you all are having a lovely week. How was your Labor Day? My son cooked out at his home and invited me over. He cooked a wonderful meal and it was a great day of just sitting,talking and visiting with one another. My youngest son was there too,with his sweet girlfriend. My two daughters and their families were doing other things that day. I am happy for September to be on the calender....hopefully the weather will be changing soon, getting more cool and crisp.  My yard and property is covered already with fallen leaves,but mostly because of the very dry weather we have had over the summer. I do see a hint of color in other leaves still on the trees....signs of the coming season of Autumn. One of my favorite seasons of all! It is getting just a bit cooler early in the mornings, cool enough to enjoy sitting on the porch for a little while watching the birds feed, listening to the church bells playing across town,and the high school band practicing out on the football field. I hear the bass drum and think only a few years ago my youngest son was there too practicing on that very same drum,and banging louder than any other I have ever heard since :) Now,he is a Marine Reserve,living out on his own. As they say...time does fly, and children do grow fast...oh, so fast... indeed! I had my little grandson Jaxon here with me yesterday, we went out into the yard early in the morning to water. He helped me pick up a few things from off the ground, then we went over near the fence to Duke's grave and hosed off all the dirt and put a little fence around it. Jaxon was so full of questions...he didn't understand why Duke was in the ground. He kept asking me,but where is the real Duke? Little ones are so sweet and innocent....I wish we all could remain so...what a wonderful world it would be.

Except ye be converted, and become as little children ye shall not enter.....Matt. 18:3

We all can learn so much from the little children,they are so loving,so forgiving..they hold no hatred in their sweet little hearts...they get upset a bit with one another,then seconds later...all is well and they are the best of friends once again  :)   We have all seen it over and over...why do we not learn?

So ..as all other months,this month of September too, will likely fly right by before we can even blink an eye...so to speak. Best to savor each and everyday,some good ,some not so good, cherish them all just the same, for this September shall never pass this way again.......blessings, Shelley

Chit Chat...this and that!

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Yesterday brought another visit with my doctor that did the surgery on July 1st. I was encouraged as he says we are finely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,so to speak! There has been a good improvement in the incision and the last of the stables were removed. Not another visit for two more weeks,but I will still have the home health nurse coming three times a week to doctor and dress the wound. I am feeling very thankful for this report.

On another note,as my daughter Regina takes me where I need to go....we two decided we would like to visit Salvation Army,since we hadn't been in a good while. The heat here is so stifling , its leaves one exasperated trying to do anything. It was a good day for stopping in just the same,as they were having a half price sale on just about everything in the store ,other than clothing! I found a very sweet little tea pot, a vintage juice pitcher,one book, a pillow sham, set of two new table napkins, a T shirt, and two blouses. Regina found some books,clothing and other things as well. After that we did a bit of grocery shopping,stopped for gas and headed home. I was hot,tired and worn out...so much so..I had to skip bible study last night. I needed to lay down and rest for a bit as soon as I got home. I did enjoy being out though as other than church and seeing the doctor...I haven't been away from home much in over a month.

I have been at the weeding mode again...going through my closets and bagging up four bags of clothes,shoes and some other items from my bedroom as well.

Just a sample of what left my home.

The bags,the hangers and some more misc. items, not the suitcases,baskets and rocker :) I traded all my colored clothes hangers in my closet for black ones. I have a bit of OCD, and having multiple colors of clothes hangers always brothers me. Crazy...right?  My son just shakes his head about my picky ways when it comes to such things. I like all the corners to match when folding and stacking my towels,washcloths and such too.

We are supposed to get a bit of a break in the temps over the weekend,which will make a whole lot of us "East Texans" very happy  :) We have had some good rains this summer ,which has left the plant life green and very pretty. I enjoyed seeing the freshly mowed hay fields while making our way to the doctor yesterday.....so pretty! Its about a 45 minute drive to the hospital so its give us a good visiting time, and sight seeing  :) getting there and back! Guess,I have rambled on enough for today...you gals have a great end of the week and thanks again to all of you for your concerns and prayers during my surgery and recovery...you are all such a blessing to me....truly!

Chit Chat...upcoming Surgery

Its going to be short and sweet today  :)   I  am fasting a bit from the internet. Feel this is something I need to do spiritually. Not,altogether gone,but cutting back most definitely! Yesterday,I didn't allow myself any time at all on line. Today, I am limiting myself! I did want to share that I am having the hernia operation on Monday morning ...due to be at the hospital at 6:00 A.M. I may or may not get to come back home that evening...just depends on how well everything goes. I know for certainty that some of you will be praying,thank you in advance for those prayers. My only sister is in need of prayers as well. Her name is Debra. I hope you all have a lovely weekend. I am getting my home in order so I can just come back home from the hospital and rest comfortably without looking at a mess  :)  While cleaning and rearranging my bedroom..I weeded over three boxes of things from in there. Lots of books,as well as other stuff! That almost feels as good as treasure hunting in the thrift stores,but not quite  ...haha! I played with some of my baby dolls too. Redressed them and such! They look much happier and I had fun  :)  I will be back in a few days hopefully to give you an update.....blessings

Chit Chat..........

Hello friends,how is your week starting out? It's a beautiful day here in my neck of woods. God is good ,isn't he? We have our bad days,with storms and clouds,but the sun is always bound to shine again. That goes for the natural and spiritual realm! There is a song I sing sometimes...."God of the Mountain"...he is God in the good times,still God in the bad times,God in the valley,and God on the Mountain! He never fails! He is worthy of all our praise....at all times!

I have bought three plants for the house thus far.....I don't know why,but I have never been so enthusiastic about houseplants before. I am loving the idea of having something living,God created,and so good for my home indoors. I mentioned that I would be buying some green plants for the house here in this post,in case you didn't see it! I picked up a small pot of English Ivy yesterday. Its such a pretty little plant. All the plants I am choosing are natural air purifiers.
I will be leaving in the next day or two for another few days visit with my parents. On the 15th of this month my eldest son is getting married! He has had many ups and downs with relationships in his young life,but I feel with all my heart this marriage is God ordained,any other relationships before this one, were him getting ahead of God.  We do that sometimes,don't we? Get ahead of God,and it sure can cause much havoc for our lives. Just consider Abraham,had he not got ahead of God and had a son by Sarah's handmaid,there would be more peace in the middle east to this day! The descendants of Ishmael and Isaac have been at war ever since.  Oh,we humans what trouble we bring upon ourselves at times.

I do wish you a wonderful week! Blessings dear friends