A Long Overdue Check-In

     Well, its been a very long time since I have posted, but I am trying to get back on a regular basis.  Life became too busy to sit at a computer due to athletics, grandchildren, marriages, births, work and life in general.  Now, after all that is said let me get updated here.  I am the mother of 3 children, 2 grandchildren, 3 dogs and 1 cat.  My husband works away from home so I am starting to have a lot more time on my hands to blog again.  Youngest child graduated from high school this year and is going to attend college in the fall and plans on majoring in accounting.  Middle child lives close, and she and her husband are the parents of the grands, 2 sweet girls.  Oldest child and his wife live out from town, so all my babies are near. 

     I just got back from a week at the beach with daughter, 2 grands, best friend, her daughter and her 2 grandboys.  I absolutely love the beach.  I went for a few days back in May with daughter and grands, but this time we took our good friends and it was fabulous.  I just wanted to check in since it has been such a long time since I posted anything.  I will be back soon with life updates and maybe some beach pics.  Yall take care, and show some kindness to someone daily.  Pray for our troops and our nation.  God bless yall!!!

Happy New Year!!

2013 has been a good year for us.  We were blessed with happiness and health!!  I talk about my kids and grands all the time, so I thought I would show you who they are.  Happy New Year! Hoping 2014 is great for yall, and filled with many of God's blessings!!!

"Finish the year and be done with it.  I have done what I could.  Some blunders and absurdities have no doubt crept in, I will forget them quickly.  Tomorrow is a new year.  I will begin it serenely and with a high spirit and hopes.  So goodbye 2013....you will soon be over, done and in the books!  No New Years resolutions for me...I will take each day as it comes, live each day to the fullest, try everyday to make someone else's life a little better and most importantly know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is GOOD and HE alone is in control.  HE HAS GOT THIS and for that I am most thankful!!!!!


(Taken from an insert of Ralph Waldo Emerson's take on a day and my dear friends post on FB.  I am blessed beyond anything I can ever expect!)

What I have been up to

Here are some of the projects I have done lately.  The first is a bench that was made from my childrens baby bed.  Since it was the Jennylynn style and that is now considered dangerous, I had my carpenter friend make me a bench--as a matter of fact two benches.  I did the painting with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, and I must tell you if you have not done anything with this type of paint, you should.  I used the clear wax to seal it.  I have not decided where I am going to put it.  I was going to put it on the porch at the studio, but I put a red bench there that we made out of a twin bed.  I am concerned that someone might take it since there is not anyone down there all the time, so I think I am going to use it inside.  The second bench went to my daughter.  She did a great job with it and has it under her carport.  The second picture is one of the frames I have been making.  I was given a block of wood and this is what I came up with.  It all started when I needed a frame for new babys picture, and refused to pay what they were asking at the gift shops.  I think mine is cuter than all those I looked at while shopping.  The last picture is a new whimsical Angel I have been making with my pottery.  I love how carefree and flowy she is.  I have had real good comments and luck with her so far.  She is one of my hot items at the studio. 


Well, I just wanted to show a little of what has been keeping me busy.  Today, I glazed for several hours, so I should have some new stuff later on this week.  I mixed glazes with my best friend and pottery buddy yesterday, and went back today and glazed about 37 pieces.  I have really worked a lot lately on Daddys house and I am about half way with getting it totally turned into a studio/gift shop.  I have set up the living room as a show case area and I am working on the 3rd bedroom turning it into a show case area also.  The kitchen, dining room, utility room and carport are where I work.   Still undecided about what to do with the other rooms but I will keep you updated.


Yall take care; Be safe, healthy, and happy; Smile and laugh; Hug those you love; Do something daily to help others; Pray and may God bless each and all!!!

Resurfacing

    

Well, I have resurfaced.  What an adventure I have been on. Let me give you a quick update.  Since I saw you last we have added the little brunette Angel.  I am an official Gammie of 2.  She is a doll!!!  Happy, fun, giggles, smiles all the time and not afraid of anything.  Big sister is still as adorable and fun as always--a real diva!  She loves her little sister and really has been a great help to her Mommy.  They all are doing great!  Son #1 has a new job and I expect I am going to get a daughter-in-law soon.  She is already a part of our family, but I think an official anoucement of a date is on its way.  #2 son is a freshman in high school.  Living life to the fullest and enjoying every minute of it.  He is a great kid!!  Actually all of my kids have really made me proud!  I am truly blessed to have 3 wonderful children that have never given me a minutes trouble.  I also have gained two more grandpuppies since I saw you last--that makes 3 now and I have been known to babysit the dogs as well as the kids!!


     I have gotten back into my pottery and have started fixing up my Dad's house as a studio and place to showcase what I do.  It is troubling at times, going through the memories, but my parents would have been so proud of my creativity, so the good moments outway the troubles.  I am still working fulltime and love my job.  I just wanted to pop in to resurface and connect with all my blogging friends.  I plan to keep more updated--I know I say this everytime--but maybe.....  Be sweet, stay kind, pray for our troops and our country, Hug those you love, and God Bless Ya'll!!!!

Quilting Along

Well, the quilt is coming along, as you can see, I have finished the main piece of the pattern. I am going to put a white border around the entire thing next, then place a colored border of the small squares around that. I have not decided what or if anything will come next. I have to visualize it and then decide. As you can see from the pics above we are growing up. Angel Baby will be two in October and she just makes me smile! She has a new something everyday that she has learned and I just enjoy watching and listening to her when I can. Hubby came home twice since we last talked, but only for 2-3 days each time. He looks good and seems to really enjoy his job. He had a growth on his arm that we had to get cut off, and praise God it was benign! We have started football-8th grade-and we seem to have a pretty good team. Simon (youngest child) has grown about 4 inches this summer and lost about 10 pounds. He is taller than me now! Voice changing and hair going wild!!! He's so cute (ok, I am prejudice), but he is a cutey!!! School is going good also, but I like summer best. Simon and I are going back to the Beach over the Labor Day holiday. One last hoorah to close out the summer. I can't wait Just a little post today to check in with ya'll. Be happy, healthy, safe and sweet! Hug those you love! Pray for our country, our troops and their families. Have a great rest of the week. Next time I check in it will be about Mucadine Jelly. I am attempting to make some for the first time ever, so wish me luck. God bless ya'll!!!! Be strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.......Colossians 1:11.

Birds and Berries Quilt

Well, I have resurfaced. It has been a horrible year, but I am refreshed, rejuvinated, and I have a whole new perspective on life! This is a new quilt I started on this weekend. The material is Birds and Berries by Lauren and Jessi Jung and the pattern is Paige by Carlene Westberg Designs. I will keep you posted as progress is made. I am redoing my front guest room, and this quilt is going on one of the twin beds. The walls are chocolate with white trim in the redo, and the accent colors are Tangerine and Teal. (I know you are thinking WHAT????) It all started from a quilt I made in this color combination. That quilt is going on one of the twin beds and this new one will go on the other. The first quilt was made from Kate Spains Fandango collection and I was not able to find enough material to make a matching one, so this fabric line has the same color combo, so it will be the second beds quilt. Pics to follow later when it gets set up. We just finished the painting Thursday and I have not put all the furniture back. The kids are great. Doss (oldest) has a new job and loves it. Carre (middle) and family are wonderful. They are expecting my second Grandbaby in October and it is another girl. Simon (the caboose) is great, loving life and life loves him! Mary Countiss (#1Grand) keeps Gammie (me) laughing constantly. She is so much fun!!!! Jack (hubby) is off working. He was laid off about 10 months, and God blessed him with a great new job in March. It is bad that he is not here, but a blessing that he has a job in this economy. I read this this morning while I was drinking my coffee and thought it was worth passing on. It is from one of my dear high school friends that I keep up with on Facebook....... Simple Trust.. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 There will always be secrets & motives of God that lie beyond our grasp. God knows everything; we do not. Only in Heaven will we understand God's ways more fully. As Paul said, "Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (1 Cor. 13:12) But based upon what we do know about God's character, demonstated supremely in the Cross, we can trust that God is doing what is best for us. God says in His Word, "I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11) As Corrie ten Boom once explained, "Picture a piece of embroidery placed between you and God, with the right side up toward God. Man sees the loose, frayed ends, but God see the pattern." God IS in control. Whatever comes into our lives, we can confidently say, "We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28)......from "Hope for Each Day".Billy Graham... Have a great week! Hug those you love! Repay good deeds done for you by passing on one yourself to others. Pray for our soldiers, their families, and our country. God bless ya'll!!!!

Beach, Birthdays, and Pottery

This summer has been wonderful so far. We moved our yearly beach trip up to June this year, so we could celebrate a young man's birthday in Destin. He picked the restaurant, and it was a blast. The hat was a gift from the staff after they sang Happy Birthday!! Angel baby was great, as long as she did not have to touch or stand in the SAND!!!!!! She hated it. She loved the waves splashing her, but she had to be held in the water, and most of the time we were on the beach she was in a lap. Occasionally she would sit in her little tent, but not for long. I have really gotten back into my pottery. The pic here is a chip and dip. I have had several sales so far, and have been approached about putting it in some stores. I am throwing the idea around in my head, and trying to get some displays together to maybe try it for a while and see what it does. Quantity is the problem. My time is limited to how much can be produced to sell. We will see what happens, still thinking! I am officially in the "studio". The move has been slow, but productive. My house is looking better everyday, because of the disapearance of the craft stash. I will post some pics later this week so ya'll can see the progress. Hubby says he is worried he will never see me again, because I spend most of the time over there!! Please, I am just around the corner!!! Ha Ha! He loves the quiet as much as I do!!



Well time to head to work---first day back after the vacation---UGH!!!! Ya'll take care. Be safe, healthy, happy. Hug those you love. Smile and laugh out loud. Pray for our soldiers, their families, our country, and all those affected by tornadoes, fires and world disasters! Get your priorities straight! God bless ya'll!!!!



P.S. I saw this quote today---"If you can't be a good example, you'll have to be a horrible warning!!"---Author Unknown. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!