Fall Cleaning Time

It's time to do some rearranging! How 'bout you? Has the "fall cleaning bug bitten" you too?

xo rachel

The Old Photo

When we purchased our old home, the previous owners gave us a black and white photo of it taken soon after our home was built.

The little oval photo at the top of my blog is our home cropped out of that larger photo.

I've used a flashlight and a magnifying glass and seen all kinds of details in the trim that do not show when you are looking at the photo with the naked eye...so to speak.

In the New Testament chapter 13 verse 12 of First Corinthians (NIV) states:

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know or see in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

I don't see the full scope of God's plan, but one day I will. I won't have to use a magnifying glass or flashlight either! That is so totally awesome!

Have a restful day.

xo rachel

A Lighthearted Thought

I've heard people say the phrase "exact same". Have you?

As in, "I had the exact same thought." Or, "My house has the exact same floor plan."

Ev'.ry. bo.dy. do.es. it!

I've done it! Yes I have.

News reporters say it. It's written in books and articles.

I've noticed it.

Start listening. You'll hear it too.

Anytime we want to make sure that what we are talking about is absolutely known to be exactly the same, we say it.

Isn't that the exact same thing?

Is it just me, or have you noticed the EXACT SAME thing?

Just checkin'!

xo rachel

My Home Sweet Home

God Bless America

Land that I love.

Stand beside her,

And guide her,

Through the night,

With the light from above.

From the mountains

To the praires

To the oceans

White with foam.

God Bless America,

My

Home Sweet Home.

September's Porch

Wow! It's hard to believe that is is already September isn't it? This month I would like you to meet Traci. She is a new blogging friend who loves old houses and porches. When I meet someone who lives in an old house, I know I've met a person who shares the common joys of old home living! You will enjoy visiting Traci's blog, Cottage With The Red Door, but first let me share with you, her beautiful photos and what she had to say."My porch is a classic colonial porch. My home was built in 1920.We recently did a lot of work to the front porch. The previous owners had it confused for a Victorian and had painted the porch a lot of different colors. Colors I didn't quite understand such as gold, green, grey,
black and red. So with primer in hand we painted it more traditional white and I painted the front door red.

It is currently decorated for fall. I love the old gate. I tend to leave it out year round just changing the decorations on it.
That being said I tend to break all the colonial rules and lean towards cottage decorating on my porch. I love to decorate for every season.
The chair is a recent addition this summer and I just replaced the geraniums with mums for fall. You can't tell from the pics but on the front door I applied the saying "There's no place like home" and for me there's no place like my front porch!"


Traci, thank you so much for taking time to share your beautiful romantic porch with us. It brings me joy to see a home owner's expression of love through their porch. And you have truly expressed yourself in a wonderful way.

xo rachel

Labor Day

Is it for "labor" around your home? Is it a time to finalize all the little last minute house~y projects before falling leaves and winter's chill?

However you spend your September American Holiday...I hope it is safe and happy.

xo rachel

Hello!

Come on and have a seat. It's GREAT to see you again. One of my favorite places to chat with you is right here on the back porch. The sun is setting and there is a slight autumn chill in the air, but it is never to late to visit. And we have a little catching up to do! My schedule has changed a lot. Our family has transitioned to a new phase of life and we are adjusting. We've experienced loss of a close family friend. I still feel claustrophobic when I think that she is really gone from...her children...her husband...her parents and those she loved. Our son is doing great. We're happy he has this opportunity. Sometimes it seemed impossible. Each day we just keep putting one foot in front of the other like everyone else. There are no options. Our children here at home are adjusting to our new way of being.

So like many of you we've had highs and lows this summer. If we seek peace and joy, we will find it. It is strange to me how it is there mixed with pain and sorrow. But still it is there.

Peace.

I wanted to tell you how neat I think this plant is with the purple flowers rising from the center. I've never seen one like it. And I love the tiny acorn.
The ants love our new brick sidewalk. One morning I was amazed to see that they had build two ways to come and go from their ant hill.
With summer sun comes the arrival of gorgeous Morning Glory blooms.

I love to drive the country roads in the early morning and see the cheery blooms that have climbed their way towards the sunshine using cornstalks for support.

Horses grazing in the field ...ah it seems so peaceful...the scene is grand...all is right with the world.
These are just a few of the things that I've been wanting you to know. And I surely want you to know how sweet I think you are. Thank you for your loving comments and emails and all of your kind words. I'm so happy you dropped by. How have you been?

xo rachel