Sunday Morning -

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:4b

I tend to focus on the "carry you, rescue you"

portions of this Scripture. I want events to go 

smoothly in my life, and when they don't,

I want to be rescued quickly.

That doesn't always happen ... so today I'm focusing

on "sustain you."

In the midst of life's heartaches and trials,

God will, indeed, sustain us.

Hugs ~ Mary

 

I'm sharing at:

 With a Grateful Prayer

Hawaiian Pudding Recipe

Years ago a coworker brought this fruity dessert to a Christmas party, and I asked for the recipe. 
It's great for a summer picnic as well, filled
with fruity goodness.

Hawaiian Pudding

Layer 1 -  Combine:

 2 c. vanilla wafer crumbs

1/2 c. melted margarine

Layer 2 - Slice:

4-5 bananas - placed evenly on wafer crust

Layer 3 - Mix and pour over bananas:

1/2 c. pure lemon juice

1 can Eagle Brand condensed milk

Layer 4 - Sprinkle 1 can coconut

Layer 5 - 1 medium can crushed pineapple

Layer 6 - 1 container Cool Whip (medium)

Layer 7 - 1 c. chopped nuts

Garnish with strawberries.

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at: 

The Answer is Chocolate

Big Storm/Tornado in Virginia

Well, it looks like we live in storm alley here in central Virginia.

Last summer it was an earthquake followed by a hurricane.

Yesterday it was a "strong wind" (per the news), but today they're

calling it a tornado - not sure where it touched down

but I do know we're without electricity 24 hours later with little

hope for that to change.

There's a huge tree lying on a power line, which is lying on the

ground, just down the road from our subdivision.

The whole area is a tree service's heaven!

Dominion Power's nightmare!

Thankfully it's not horribly hot today, so open windows are

helping us to stay comfortable.

I'm at the library at the moment, jotting this note to let you

know what's going on with me. Hopefully I'll be back very

soon.

Hugs ~ Mary

Sunday Morning

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

This verse stopped me in my tracks this week. 

Imagine that in our darkest night:

1. God is with us.

2. God's power is made perfect.

So many things happen that weaken our strength - 

physical, emotional, or spiritual trauma.

The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, 

the rejection of a friend, or a long-term sickness. 

I've noticed myself asking God "why?" during many of my valleys. But this verse reminds me that 

His grace is sufficient 

 for everything when I am weak. 

(from atop Afton Mountain, Virginia)

We simply need to turn to Him in submission and

prayer, trusting that He has it all under control.

This is easy enough when things are

going well for us ... it requires more 

work on our part to trust in the darkness. 

I'm encouraged by this verse today to

work on my choices whether to trust God in

all things. Pray for me as I pray for you!

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:

With a Grateful Prayer

How Does Your Garden Grow?

My garden is growing, though not without it's bumps and twists

along the way. This year I'm experiencing Gardening 101 - my first

container flower garden, and so much to learn.

I am having yellow leaf syndrome, which according to my internet research can mean I'm over-watering, under-watering, over-sunning, under-sunning, or using too much fertilizer.

Who knows which one(s) I did! However, they keep blooming, which makes me very happy. I especially love these new blooms - zinnias - added just last week.

Mr. Redo and Elizabeth cleaned out Mr. Redo's nightmare very messy shed last weekend.

Mr. Redo: Mary, please try to give away this old wooden ladder on Craigslist.

Mary: (long silence, stunned, then...) No way!

Heading around to the front yard, we find this little lovely with several friends soon to follow  ~

And two of these guys, one on each plant. It looks like that will be it for the summer, two tomatoes ... here at Gardening 101 ~ 

How does your garden grow?

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:

Savvy Southern Style
Fishtail Cottage

It's a Picnic!

Shannon at Cozy Home Scenes is having a party,
and I'm going to be there!

I was inspired by the May-June issue of  
Southern Lady magazine,
which has been on my breakfast table for weeks. 
I'd read it twice, but couldn't put it away because
the cover fascinated me - so beautiful!


When I heard that Shannon was having a picnic
party, I decided to do a magazine copy cat.

Here's my version  ~

 Everyone in my house loves watermelon - and it's such a fun 

picnic side.

Around 6 is a perfect time to sit on the deck, listen to the cheeping of the birds,and feel a 
"sweet Virginia breeze." 
 

Here's the magazine version ~

You can see why I wanted to copy it - 

it shouts Summer!

Hope you can join the party, I'd love to see you there!

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:

Cozy Home Scenes

Savvy Southern Style
Between Naps on the Porch

Shabby Chandy Redo

This chandelier was an incredibly timely Craigslist find here.

I only searched twice before I found what sounded like 

The One.

 

And it was!

More than happy to give it a redo,

I took it outside for some Rustoleum Heirloom White.

This 2-in-1 paint makes me so happy - no need to prime,

just paint away. Looks pretty sad here, eh?

But I had a vision for it because I knew it would work perfectly in our new shabby chic breakfast room.

Click here to see the breakfast room post!

The ribbon of roses were at a yard sale for $2. Funny

how you sometimes come across exactly

what you were looking for but never expected to find!

The pearls were a recent offering on Pick Your Plum.

My first purchase from them, and it was a great shopping experience. The pearls arrived quickly.

Have you shopped at Pick Your Plum (here) yet?

It's a deeply discounted, daily limited number,

craft item sale. I receive notice via email when 

the day's item becomes available. Of course

you need to jump on it because items often

sell out quickly.

 

Next up on the list of things to do for the dining room: 

paint the picture frames white ... and hopefully get rid

of the sconces (or paint them, ah yes, paint...).

Here's the before and after ~

 What's the best thing you've found on Craigslist?

This is my favorite!

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:

 

Sunday Morning - Father's Day

"Love means to love that which is unlovable, or it is no virtue at all;

forgiving means to pardon that which is unpardonable, 

or it is no virtue at all;

and to hope means hoping when things are hopeless,

or it is no virtue at all."

G. K. Chesterton

My earthly father was a fabulous Dad. 

He was strong and talented.

He loved me with such kindness.

He spent time with me, skipping, sledding, biking.

I dearly loved Dad and still miss him, ten years after his death.

My husband is a fabulous father.

He teaches Elizabeth Algebra and watches good movies with her.

He takes Matthew fishing and to practice sports.

Our kids dearly love their Dad, and they gave him a 

Kindle Fire for Father's Day (a day early) - and boy,

was their Dad shocked! And happy!

 

My Heavenly Father is even more amazing than these two

wonderful earthly dads. He loves me when I'm unlovable, 

forgives me when I completely fail, 

and gives me hope when the path seems dark.
And it has, indeed, seemed dark many times.
Here's the good news: He never leaves me. Ever.

He is a perfect Father.

Today and every day, I hope you experience the Heavenly Father's unconditional, forgiving, hope-bestowing love.

Happy Father's Day.

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:

With a Grateful Prayer & Thankful Heart

Find your Pictures on Pinterest

I learned yesterday that you can find all the pictures 
pinned from your blog 
onto Pinterest by going using this URL:

http://pinterest.com/source/your-blog-address/

 

Threading My Way posted about this on 6.14.12 and

I tried it. Very surprised at the results. As Threading My Way said, posts that got no or few comments- you assumed bombed. But no, people have pinned the pictures from some of those posts.

The above link will only show you pictures that have been pinned within the United States. Other countries have codes that you add to the end of the above link. 

 Like me, you will probably start putting your blog name on

all your pictures.

You'll want to read the post by Threading My Way here first. 

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:

The Answer is Chocolate

Poor Casper

We took Casper to the vet yesterday because his ear (flap) was

hard and swollen. He's had this once before - a hematoma.

 

I thought Miss E was cleaning his ears regularly, but apparently

in her distress over the possibility of her best friend moving to

Georgia (4 states away!), it didn't get done.

 

So he developed an ear infection, and because it was miserable,

he shook his head really hard a lot. Which led to the hematoma.

He's on ear drops for the next two weeks ... after which they

want to perform surgery, inserting a drainage device and

stitching his ear flap together so there's no room for this to ever

happen again.

 

Our sweet baby, I feel so sorry for him. He's 11 years old, a fine gentleman for his age. We're all spoiling him horribly, extra treats and hugs and doggie talk. 

Hope you feel better soon, dear Casper! 

Hugs ~ Mary

Mod Podge a Recipe Box

Decorators Anonymous* contacted me recently and said I'd won their contest for

World's Ugliest Recipe Box

The back story is that I found it at a yard sale (years ago) and it was cheap. You can imagine that, right? Very cheap.

For some time I've tried to think what to do about it - toss it and buy a new one, or hmm, 

was there some way I could redo this one?

I was cruising around Blogland when I spotted a recipe box that had obviously been redone using Mod Podge. "If she can do it, I can too," I said.

And I did. 

What you'll need:

. 1 ugly recipe box (or any box of your choosing)

. several sheets of coordinating scrapbook paper

. scissors

. Mod Podge

. sponge brush

1. Cut paper using box as a template.

2. Coat the box with Mod Podge, one surface at a time. Apply paper to that surface. Let dry for a minute or two, then continue Mod Podging each surface until done.
3. Apply Mod Podge to outside of paper.

3. Trim excess - when it was all dried, I attempted to close the box but couldn't - too much paper along the edges. I found it easy to press down the offending areas with a flat tool. Now it closes perfectly.

So, what do you think? Not bad, eh?!

Can someone please let Decorators Anonymous* know that I'm out of the running for this year's contest?

Hugs ~ Mary

*just kidding

I'm sharing at:

Just Pin It!

I've been blessed recently with the gift of craft and sewing supplies from two sweet ladies at my church.

"Pin It" seems appropriate for this jar, as you can either use the straight pins to hold your sewing items together or you can use the clothespins to hang your laundry. Either way, you really could just Pin It. And while we're talking about pinning it,
feel free to follow me on Pinterest (see side bar).

 

Love these old wooden spools of thread in a dainty
apothecary jar that I already had. I enjoy changing
the decor in this jar regularly, seasonally, any time at all.

 

Another apothecary jar already owned, now holding spools
of embroidery thread. Aren't the colors delicious? My mom 

was an embroiderer but I've never done that and doubt I'd
have the patience at this time. But I love decorating 
with the thread.

So grateful to the two ladies who gave me these sewing supplies.

You can see some of the many pin cushions I've made in this picture. The jar pin cushion was the first I've made
using a jar, and it was not easy. I made another and, as 
usual, practice makes progress. 


Do you decorate with sewing supplies? 
It's lots of fun!

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:
A Stroll Thru Life
 Savvy Southern Style

 

Getting Ready for the 4th

I love this wooden flag, bought at a yard sale last year, 

but the orange stripes simply had to go.

 

Being a very patriotic person, you know, with many family members who have served our country.

So I opened a bottle of Delta Ceramcoat's "Cardinal Red" and repainted the orange stripes.

Now they're red ... out on the deck in front of the empty boards onto which I keep saying I am going to stencil some 

really relevant statement. 

Any suggestions for a really relevant deck statement? 

UPDATE: I was thinking of something for the blank boards
that would work for the entire summer - but as my nephew
Dave stated below, the flag works really well (year-round)!

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:
Between Naps on the Porch
Cozy Home Scenes
 

Sunday Morning - Prayer Plan

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,

Do not fear; I will help you.

Isaiah 41:25 NIV

This thought from Dr. Mark Becton, Grove Avenue Baptist Church, on June 3, 2012:

Take all your thoughts and concerns and consolidate them into a one sentence prayer.

Mr. Redo and I did that, separately, and came up with the same prayer. Very concise, and what we want more than 

anything in the world: 

that our children will follow and 

serve the Lord.

Hugs ~ Mary

I'm sharing at:

With a Grateful Prayer

Sunny Simple Life

I'm Over at Diann's Today

I'm guest posting today over at Diann's

(click the picture to go there)

Drop by there and read about the yard saling

rules a friend taught me years ago - it's so fun!

See you tomorrow for Sunday Morning.

Hugs ~ Mary

A Budding Photographer

Redo Jr. and I had a bonding hour yesterday - 

after a rocky road during sixth grade ~

He asked to use my camera, and following are the results of his photo op - unedited except to resize

to fit the blog. Enjoy the beauty - I think we may have a budding photographer!

We walked around our neighborhood and he

took pictures of flowers in our neighbor's yards.

He says the one above is a smiley face.

 

I love the way he snapped the details of the inner flower ~ 

The one below - I have no idea what it is -

is my absolute favorite - just stunning!

And this one - along with the bumble bee - is

Redo Jr.'s favorite - as well as Mr. Redo's

and Miss E's. They really love bugs and insects and animals.

 Have a great weekend, friends! 

I'm sharing at:

The Answer is Chocolate

Hugs ~ Mary