A Place To Call Home!

I took this photo in August, at a house that was sitting empty, on a property on which we were marking boundary lines. I wondered...what kind of birds lived here? Are they gone for good? How many babies chirped and peered over the edge of their cozy home; finally testing their wings for their first flight beyond its' border?
It is a very nice and spacious nest! It's solid with mud and wrapped with long strands of field grass. However today the weather is cold and windy. It's raining and snow is in the impending forecast. Still I wonder...hum, are the birds gone for good? Surely they will be just fine...we will all be just fine! sigh

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young- a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are every praising you.
Old Testament Psalm chapter 84, verse 3 NIV

Have a wonderful and restful day!
Love, Rachel

Missing In Action

Oh where oh where has my camera gone? Oh where oh where could it be?
Is it in this drawer with my bits and pieces of fluffy ribbon?

Could it be lodged down between these fragile ornaments?

Or was it lying in one of these boxes when the lid was snapped on it? Well, I just don't know. I'm searching. I had some photos I wanted to show you that I thought were neat. But I will have to use these today while I continue to look!

Have a fun Saturday. It looks like it will be a fun day for me too...well, searching for the camera and all!

Love, Rachel

The Day AFTER Thanksgiving!

" Huh? What's that you're sayin'? You're stuffed? Oh well, I am too!" says Little Lamb.
Was you're Thanksgiving dinner yummy? Our lunch was yummy too! And I was thankful for our provisions.

Now it's time to get our ducks...er ponies...in a row. We're on the countdown toward Christmas. Can ya believe it?!

Nope we're not shopping today. Are you? They say you'll find some great deals!

Love, Rachel

According to "Webster"

Gratitude: n. thankfulness

Thanksgiving: n. 1) the act of giving thanks

2) a prayer expressing gratitude

3) the 4th Thursday in November observed as a legal holiday for

giving thanks for divine goodness

According to "Rachel"...I'm truly blessed. I could go on and on listing my blessings for which I feel extreme gratitude and thankfulness. Today, I will list two of them or maybe three or four.
I'm thankful for this yummy pie crust recipe that turns out great every time I make it. smile sigh
I'm thankful for the young man I met on Thanksgiving Day all those years ago who stole my heart and four years later we celebrated Thanksgiving Day together...married!
smile sigh
Last year on Thanksgiving, I didn't know all of you my fabulous blogging friends! Thank you for your friendship and kind comments.
smile sigh
Today I'm truly filled with gratitude!
smile sigh

Eat lots of turkey, and take a little time to be thankful!
smile sigh
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love, Rachel

More Uses!

You can put extra Christmas ornaments in a dish like this. Just stack the ornaments together and enjoy their reflective beauty. The "dish" that holds the ornaments is actually an old glass lampshade. I found this pedestal somewhere and set the lampshade on top of it. It makes an adorable fruit dish or potpourri dish too! But for this season it's gonna hold a few balls! At least until I think of something else I want to do with it. The tree reflecting in the mirror is the keepsake tree. I need to see if I can get a good photo of it to show you sometime.

Is everyone scurrying around today to cook and clean and "fix all the fixins'? Just pretend you're playing house and have a ton of fun!

Love, Rachel

OOPS!

Oh Oh!
But even the inside of a broken Christmas ball is fascinating. Isn't the reflection interesting? I need to figure out some fun little use for these broken bits!

Gold and silver balls on this musical themed tree make all the difference.

Don't they?

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Rachel

Keepsakes From The Heart

I call this the keepsake tree. If you've given me some little bauble or trinket, it can most likely be found in this tree. I know a lot of people don't decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. For us the season seams to move so quickly, that we like to savor our special moments across a few weeks, so our Christmas decor is up. Though I wouldn't say it's finished. Is it ever finished? Yes, I've been known to put something in a tree right before I take it down...just to see how it will look you know.

Thank you to all of you friends, family and acquaintances who faithfully ready my blog and then let me know that you are enjoying it. I appreciate it so much. I enjoy reading your comments and emails, or getting your phone calls or simply running into you and hearing it in person. This world wide web is an amazing thing. Whoever thought I could write it and someone in South Africa, Australia or right here in my little town could read it all at the same time? And you do! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you'd like to wish Karla a happy birthday today, you can click on the cute little kitty in my sidebar and you'll zoom right there to her desktop and be able to do that! Karla, I hope your day is super happy!

Love, Rachel

Yay! It's Saturday!

All righty then! Do you have a busy day planned? I have several things that I hope I can get completed today. I just wanted to jump in and say a happy howdy!

Have a great day.
Love, Rachel

Christmas Ball...no not a dance!

I simply love glass Christmas balls. Across the years, I've accumulated a few...few...several...maybe a lot. I get them at my favorite thrift store. Well yes, back in the early days (whatever that is) I did buy some from an actual retail establishment, and they are beginning to come of age. But I just love the ones that show the wear and scuff from memories of Christmas. This bag full of little balls was 50 cents.
And this box was 1 dollar. I've spent 2.50 on ornamental Christmas balls this season. That's my limit on pocket change expenditures! Well I mean, after all you've gotta draw the line somewhere don'tcha? These balls in the box above aren't old I don't think, but they have great character. And I pitch those boxes. No sirree, no boxes to keep for me. Or I can give the old boxes to you. I know some of you collect them.

This is where I keep my Christmas balls. They are all nestled in there real cozy like...all together. Yep, their safe. Rarely have a breakage...that's what happens if they get dropped on a hard wood floor. Yikes!
Oh and yes, there are 3 drawers full of them...sometime, maybe I'll get the courage to show you what I do with them at Christmas time! I may have a few others here and there!

Look at your cute little face in a glass Christmas ball. Laugh yourself silly at your reflection, and go have yourself the best day you possibly can.
Love, Rachel

A Tutorial!

After searching through the supply cabinet, and realizing there was no red construction paper, the "petite porch princess" decided to "make her own". From watching her, I realized if you want to do this yourself, you will need to use white copy paper and a washable red marker. Spend a very long time diligently covering all the surface of the white paper with red marker.
When you are finished both sides will be "red" and ready for all of your construction paper needs. I propped it up and snapped this photo so you can see how it will look when it is completed! smile

Well, how do you make construction paper at your house? I just thought maybe you'd like to know how it is done here!

Have a crafty creative day!
Love, Rachel

P.S. Yes, the Santa is one of the ones carved from wood by my daddy. Sorry, but I wouldn't be much help with a tutorial for that!

I DO Have a Choice!

I could be sad that it is cold. Warm summer evenings on the porch are a mere memory as we scurry from the door and down the steps.

The leaves have fallen to a crisp blanket of brown on the lawn. Instead, I will choose to enjoy the outline of the tree limbs etched like an intricate hand of lace against the gray blue sky. Black lace I call it...all so marvelously woven.

What have you found today that you can choose to enjoy?

Love, Rachel

Can you see the faint vapor rising from the flame on the lit candles? Or do you see their reflection on the black surface of the piano?
Each day as I live my life, I wonder what I reflect? When my life has been spent, my candle a mere stub of what was once a full life ahead, will the vapor that rose from me be one of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? I'm working on it!

We've got a new week ahead, so go burn your candle...in a good way of course!

Love, Rachel

Ever Wonder?

Do pets get bored,
and just curl up and go to sleep?

More sleep sounds good. It is a precious commodity here in our home! How 'bout yours?

Love, Rachel

Just Think About It

Just think about it...if we could turn off the news,
and focus on the beauty around us,
and listen to the leaves as they float and twirl towards a soft landing,

and realize where TRUE inner strength comes from,

share good times with our friends and family,

then maybe we could focus on the path we are to follow...the purpose we have to fulfill.

Just think about it...life really is good, isn't it?

Love, Rachel

Just Something Fun

On a recent fall day, I received a call where the "caller" requested to use our home for a surprise 40th birthday party. We were so excited and honored that they would think to ask US of all things.
Let's see? Had we lost our marbles?

Nope! They are right here. So we said yes!

They said I didn't need to do one thing! Oh, this is gonna be fun! So I light the candles as all happy homemakers are prone to do on special occasions!

I took a step back and made sure everything was in its proper place.

I'm not sure why that toilet picture is here...I think I was trying to get a good picture of the photo of the two little children giving the puppy a bath...so moving along.

I made sure the bathroom floors were clean enough to eat off of. Not that I REALLY thought anyone would want to come in here to eat, but I have heard of having your floors clean enough to eat on. Come on now, haven't you?

While I was at it, I made sure the hardwood was shiny.

I set out music for the musicians that were in the bunch.

One of the guests said to let him know when the piano is for sale!! Funny guy!

I made sure all the mirrors were glimmering in the candlelight.

When the party was over, I found a few stray pieces of party decor.

I believe birthdays are so important. I think we should celebrate each year with the realization that we have a purpose to fulfill. When I was cleaning up afterward, I could tell that everyone had a lot of fun. It made me happy. And to think, all we had to do was provide the place.

Yes, the birthday girl was truly surprised.

Love, Rachel

P.S. If today is YOUR birthday...make plans for a happy one!

Veteran's Day

Today, while going about my responsibilities around town, I had opportunity to observe an elderly man who was obviously the keeper of his home. After a few concerned glances in his direction, my eyes were drawn to his baseball cap. It was a little bit dented and sitting high on the crown of his head. As my heart lurched to my throat, I felt myself stepping toward him and saying, "Sir, I see that your hat says Veteran World War II. Proud to have served. I just want to say thank you for the freedoms you fought for all those years ago, that I am enjoying today!" His eyes glimmered, and just as though no time had passed, he began to tell me stories of the 39 months of his service to our nation, back in the 1940's.
He continued, "Well, I wore this hat today because I couldn't go down to the thing (I think he may have meant parade). My wife has dialysis 3 times a week and I'm her rock. Well, I do it all I guess, and I couldn't go." I said, "Life is hard sometimes isn't it?" He replied, "Yes yes it is, but I appreciate you saying thank you."

My heart twisted within me. He fought for MY freedom. Your freedom. He's walked a long journey and the burden of life is bending him. All I could do was say thank you. It seemed so inadequate.

I continued with my day. My path crossed with another soldier in uniform. My oh my, he looked like a kid. He had a cheery girl with him. He stood straight and tall above me, imposingly. Once again, I said, "Thank you sir for your service on behalf of our country." He replied, "Well thank you ma'am."

Veteran's Day.
To honor all who have served.
Land that I love!
Rachel